The embattled Australian Democrats were forced yesterday to defend the environmental 'wins' they claimed in the GST deal, after leaked papers showed that agreed diesel emission standards were likely to be reduced anyway. According to the papers, the National Road Transport Commission had agreed on a timetable to bring in new petrol and diesel emission standards and called for the phased introduction of the new levels from 2002. With the backing of the National Environment Protection Council, it asked for members to comment on the changes.