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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 04 September 2005 |
 Although the Australian Tax Office
finally now recognises biodiesel as an alternative fuel, with
concessions available to commercial producers, there are good
disincentives in place for the home enthusiast/producer. The ATO
demands that any quantity of biodiesel made for home use, even the
tiniest sample, must first be tested to see if it meets Australian
Standards, then an excise tax of 38 per litre needs to be paid to the
government (which will be refunded if it can be proved that the home
made biodiesel meets Australian Standards). This prevents the legal
production effectively, as unless a producer only made very large
batches, they will be forced to pay for expensive chemical analysis for
each batch they make. Also, there’s hardly an abundance of Australian
Government/ATO certified biodiesel testing labs lying around waiting
for the home user’s samples.
This has caused the death of what could have been a clean, green
thriving scene, driving all the home enthusiasts underground, even
afraid to talk in public about what they are doing. Promoting the fuel
with all its benefits has been effectively stifled, as few are willing
to stick their neck out to admit to making it.
Shame on our politicians.
There is a group that has formed specifically to fight this. They
argue that home brewed biodiesel should be taxed in the same way as
beer – if you make it for your own consumption and do not sell it,
there is no tax. The group is called Biodiesel Excise Exemption Reform,
or BEER. They have been running a campaign for many years, which has
mostly fallen on deaf ears. Here are some documents that they made for
the purpose of lobbying politicians:
BEER Letter
BEER Press Sheet
Both of these PDF documents are designed as forms for you to add you information and send them on to your MP or senator.
Other FAQs
What is Biodiesel?
Can I use it in my engine?
What about performance and economy?
How is it made and where does it come from?
Is it a safe fuel?
What are the environmental benefits?
How can I make it?
Where can I buy it?
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 25 September 2005 )
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