The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) has policy responsibility for a range of programs, which provide assistance to Australia's ethanol and biodiesel industries. These are the:
Further assistance is provided to the alternative fuels sector through concessionary excise arrangements. Alternative fuels remain effectively excise free until 2011.
In 2006, the Australian Government introduced the LPG Vehicle Scheme. The Scheme is designed to encourage the uptake and use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a transport fuel. The Scheme provides subsidies towards the cost of the purchase of a new manufacturer-fitted LPG vehicle or for the fitting of an automotive LPG system to a new or existing petrol or diesel vehicle.
As at 31 March 2009, the Scheme has resulted in 211,964 additional LPG-fuelled vehicles on the road at an estimated cost to the Government of $422.5 million.