The Australian coalition government has confirmed it is to invest some A$67 million over a three year period in an attempt to clean up the nation's public transport system using fuel cell technology.

Under the new initiative the government would create a network of hydrogen fuel depots, as well as purchasing up to 90 fuel cell powered buses, according to Fuel Cell Today.

The announcement was made by the Australian environment minister Ian Campbell who said the spending would help push through the next stage of hydrogen-fuelled bus trials in the country in order to reduce the level of vehicular pollution in the atmosphere.

The government has already allocated A$2.5 million to a two-year trial of hydrogen fuel cell buses which is due to begin in Perth later this month.  The trial will use three fuel cell buses jointly sponsored by the federal and states governments, BP and DaimlerChrysler.

"Our plan is to have the first buses in the national trial operating on Brisbane streets in 2008, with other capital cities to follow," Mr Campbell said.

Mr Campbell went on to warn that funds allocated for the eco-friendly scheme were dependent on the Liberal-National collation being re-elected at Saturday's general election.