The country's environment minister said the move would reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons by 2012 and cut household power bills by up to 66 per cent.Malcolm Turnbull said the switch would be a world first.
But environmentalists said plan would have only a small impact on Australian greenhouse gas emissions, the vast bulk of which came from industry such as coal-fired power stations.
Australia produced almost 565 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2004, official figures show.
Under Turnbull's plan, light bulbs that do not comply with energy efficiency targets would be gradually banned from sale.
"It's a little thing, but it's a massive change," Turnbull told Australia's Nine Network television.
"If the rest of the world ... follows our lead, this will reduce an amount of energy to the tune of five times as much energy as Australia consumes," he said.
Exemptions may apply for special needs such as medical lighting and oven lights.
'Small step'
Last month a politician in the US state of California said he was preparing to introduce a bill banning incandescent bulbs from sale.
"It is a good, positive step," Australian Conservation Foundation spokesman Josh Meadows told Australia's ABC radio.
"But it is a very small step. It needs to be followed through with a lot of different measures."
Environmental issues are expected to feature prominently in Australia's federal elections due later this year.
The opposition Labor Party has accused the government of not doing enough to respond to climate change.
