Ms CATHERINE KING (Ballarat—Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) (14:25): I thank the member for Bennelong very much for the question, because he knows that there are substantial cost-of-living benefits to Australians from getting more efficient and cleaner vehicles into the Australian market. People may not know, but the new vehicle efficiency standard has been on the books as a policy idea for decades; it's been coalition policy for nearly a quarter of a century. John Howard went to the 2001 election promising: The Coalition is negotiating new fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicles to reduce the amount of fuel consumed per kilometre travelled. The most recent coalition government, where the Leader of the Opposition was seated at the cabinet table, was committed to delivering an efficiency standard with, of course, the member for Bradfield, who said: Although Australia accounts for less than two per cent of the global new vehicle market, it is becoming increasingly important that we harmonise our approaches to vehicle emissions with those in place in other countries. And, of course, according to media reports, as late as yesterday the Leader of the Opposition told his party room that efficiency standards continue to be coalition policy. The coalition, frankly, are all talk and no delivery. They are too scared of their own shadows to deliver on their own policies. When anything gets a little bit too hard, they curl up into a ball. They are the scared, weird little guys of Australian politics. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will pause. Mr Pasin interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Barker! This is not the time to interject. You're warned. There's too much noise. I can't hear what the minister is saying. Mr Dutton: Lucky you! The SPEAKER: I'd ask the Leader of the Opposition to show some respect to every minister, just as I demand respect shown to him. Ms Rishworth interjecting— Mr Shorten interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Social Services and the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme will cease interjecting. We're just going to take the temperature down and ensure that this minister is heard. I need to hear what the minister is saying. I think every member needs to hear as well. Ms CATHERINE KING: As I said, those opposite are the scared, weird little guys of Australian politics, so fearful of anything that they are absolutely paralysed. This government, of course, is getting on with the job of delivering for the Australian people, and our goal is to provide more choice of cleaner, cheaper-to-run cars for all Australians. An efficiency standard is important because it allows consumers to choose the right vehicle for them and their circumstances and it incentivises car companies to deliver their best cars into the Australian market. Mr Littleproud interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Nationals will cease interjecting. Ms CATHERINE KING: It will help take the pressure off families by creating a greater choice of cars that are cheaper to run—whether they're petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric vehicles. It is particularly important in regional communities like mine because we stand to benefit the most from fuel savings for those vehicles. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy and I have been consulting. We've closed those consultations now. I've been talking to the Australian CEOs of car manufacturers, dealer representatives and motor clubs. We thank everyone for their constructive feedback, because we know, on this side of the House, that that is what good governments do. They consult, work through issues, deliver for Australian consumers, and don't curl up into a little ball and hope that no-one notices. (Time expired)