The NSW Government has scrapped the FleetWise scheme, a program designed to provide information on reducing fleet carbon emissions to business and local government.
The Coalition Government cancelled the program at the recent Council of Australian Governments meeting due its similarities to the Australian Government’s Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program.
The FleetWise scheme was established in 2010 by the then NSW Labor Government to provide information on reducing greenhouse emissions to businesses, not-for-profit organisations and local councils with at least 20 fleet vehicles.
The program included initiatives such as seminars on low-emission fleet management practices, information on new vehicle technology, online emission measurement tools and advice on developing strategies.
The national Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program is a $40-million program to assist organisations to develop information on reducing carbon emissions, which they can provide to their community, constituents or members. It is not specifically related to fleet operations.
Since its establishment in February this year, the program has provided $20 million in grants to 28 applicants. A second round of applications is now underway.
The Victorian Government has a similar scheme in place, but has no plans to follow suit by scrapping it.