Report of the Biofuels Taskforce

The Taskforce on Biofuels was appointed by the Prime Minister in May to examine the latest scientific evidence on the impacts of ethanol and other biofuel use on human health, environmental outcomes and automotive operations. The taskforce also took into account the most recent economic analyses of fuel supply in Australia, and assessed the costs and benefits of biofuel production. The taskforce examined: the findings of the December 2003 CSIRO/ABARE/BTRE desktop study into the appropriateness of a 350 million litre biofuels target; the findings of the Department of Environment and Heritage study into the impacts of E20 on engine operation; other international and Australian scientific research on the health and environmental impacts of supplementing fossil fuels with biofuels; and the economic and scientific bases upon which decisions have been made to support ethanol and other biofuel production internationally. Released 22 September 200