Tough new petrol standards will be introduced at the end of 2025, potentially increasing the cost of fuel while expanding consumer access to leading-edge, mostly European, ultra-efficient vehicles.

In changes Labor said would also slash 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector by 2050 – equivalent to taking 280,000 cars off the road – the government aims to spur greater imports of vehicles that car makers currently do not sell in Australia because the fuel is too dirty for their highly calibrated engines.