Press Releases

Fuel Tax Credit Expansion Offers Relief To Garden Care Industry

The garden care industry is set to benefit  greatly from the expansion of the Federal Government's fuel tax credits scheme  introduced 1 July, 2008, according to Honda Australia Power Equipment Manager, Ray Briffa.
Whilst previously only available to  specific industries and heavy vehicle operators, the expansion enables "off-road"  fuel concessions, providing benefits to professional users of landscape and  gardening equipment, including lawnmowers, brushcutters, blowers and the like.

  According to Mr Briffa, the reforms  to the scheme are welcome news for the garden care industry, particularly in  light of the rising fuel prices, water restrictions and dry conditions  experienced in recent years.
"The past couple of years have  been tough for the garden care industry, with the drought drying out lawns  across many areas of the country, coinciding with water restrictions; this has led  to a decline in demand for regular garden maintenance," he said.

"For these service providers to  now be able to recoup some running costs through their inclusion in the fuel  tax scheme is a very encouraging step.

  Mr Briffa acknowledged the rising  fuel cost pain as a widely felt sentiment in the industry, but is further encouraged  by plans for the rebate to double in four years.

"In addition to these initial  measures, Honda is glad to see that there is policy in place for the fuel tax  scheme to offer an even greater rebate (a 50 per cent increase) by 2012,"  he said.

  According to Mr Briffa, strong sales  of Honda's advanced four-stroke product range this year marks a trend in which  operators of traditional two-stroke equipment are making the transition to more  fuel efficient product.

"Equipment operating costs are  an extremely important consideration for all businesses," he said.  "For contractors using equipment for  eight hours a day over the course of five or six days, the fuel savings are  considerable.

  Further benefits of four-stroke  equipment include reduced exhaust emissions, quieter operation, minimal  vibration and the ability to use regular unleaded fuel rather than an oil and  fuel mix -   ultimately these factors lead to a more  efficient and productive work day.