Govt announces new smog rules for cars

The federal government insists jobs will be protected when it introduces emission restrictions on new cars and utes aimed at reducing hazardous smog.

But Transport Minister Anthony Albanese concedes the new requirements could see the cost of new cars, particularly diesel vehicles, rise.

The government plans to phase in the new rules over the next seven years, forcing carmakers to cut three pollutants known to cause cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

The changes are estimated to cut the cost of smog-related illnesses by $1.5 billion.

Announcing the regulations in Sydney on Saturday, Mr Albanese promised that no jobs would be lost, noting that the Geelong Ford factory's line of cars meet the standards.

"What this proposal does is give the (industry) certainty to invest for the future to protect those jobs," he said, acknowledging that there could however be an impact on the cost of new cars.

"But the savings in terms of our environment, the health of our kids, is much greater than that minimal increase in cost," he said.

The car industry's peak body agrees the cost impacts will be "very minimal", noting that many cars are already being manufactured to the meet the proposed requirements.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Andrew McKellar welcomed the regulations as "balanced and realistic".

"Australian vehicle emissions will be aligned with leading international standards," he said.

"The industry's support for this initiative reflects its strong commitment to the advancement of vehicle emission standards and better environmental outcomes."

The federal opposition has also backed the idea of rules for vehicle emissions, but said it will wait to see the detail of the proposal before it supports the move.

"The devil is all too often in the detail, but we think as a principled measure, (it) is a sensible thing," opposition junior environment spokesman Simon Birmingham said.

"If it cleans up our roads and our streets, makes the air we breathe a little safer for everybody, then that's obviously a good thing."