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A federal Labor government will, if elected, extend the diesel and alternative fuels grants scheme (DAFGS) until 2003. Transport spokesman Martin Ferguson told the NatRoad conference today that the Labor Party has no intention of changing the scheme, which is scheduled to operate until June 30, 2002. With the federal government yet to start work on setting up the post-2002 energy-credits scheme, he confirms a Labor government will introduce legislation to extend the diesel-grants scheme for 12 months. As well, Ferguson says a Labor government will introduce an energy-credits scheme by July 2003 that "retains the equivalent benefits to the trucking industry as DAFGS", which provides a grant of 18.31 cents a litre on diesel used by most trucks. This policy, he adds, has been developed in consultation with Labor's Shadow Cabinet and with a view to the likely Budget situation it will inherit if elected. However, he says Labor will look at adding to the energy-credits scheme incentives for environmentally-friendly vehicles.