Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, today invited the public to attend consultation sessions on the Rudd Government’s $1.3 billion Green Car Innovation Fund to be held early next month.
The Green Car Innovation Fund, which commences from 1 July 2009, will provide assistance over ten years to encourage the design, development and manufacture of low-emission, fuel-efficient cars and components in Australia.
The 2½ hour consultation sessions will be held in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth between Monday, 2 February and Tuesday, 10 February 2009.
"The focus of these sessions will be on the Green Car Innovation Fund Framework Paper, which I released in December," Senator Carr said.
"The Framework Paper outlines how we propose to implement and operate the fund, and we are keen to hear people’s views on these proposals.
"This fund is a critical part of the Rudd Government's $6.2 billion New Car Plan for a Greener Future, which is designed to make the automotive industry more economically and environmentally sustainable by 2020.
"The consultations, like the car plan itself, are about working in partnership with industry to ensure we have a modern automotive sector, providing high-skill, high-wage jobs for the future.
"Feedback from the consultation sessions, combined with feedback from the written submissions I called for in December, will inform the finalisation of the program guidelines for the fund."
Bookings for consultations can be made by phoning the AusIndustry hotline on 13 28 46, booking online at www.ausindustry.gov.au or emailing hotline@ausindustry.gov.au.
Written submissions will be accepted until 12 February 2009 and can be emailed to the Manager, Green Car Innovation Fund Taskforce, GCIF@innovation.gov.au.
Details on consultation sessions are attached.
Media Contact: Patrick Pantano, Minister's Office, 0417 181 936
Michelle Henderson, AusIndustry, (02) 6276 1627