Australia Prime Minister Dangles Scrappage Rebates for Election Votes

The Australian government believes a proposed A$2,000 ($1,791) vehicle-scrappage program would take about 200,000 pre-1995 vehicles off the road over the next four years, from Jan. 1, 2011, to December 2014.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the rebates would go to motorists who purchase a new, lower-emissions fuel-efficient vehicle. But that will happen only if her Labor government is re-elected Aug. 21.

Gillard says in a statement the “cleaner car rebate” will ...