The Australian Greens say the EV tax policies the Labor Government is currently exploring will slow down EV uptake and keep Australians more vulnerable to oil shocks.
Reporting in the Australian confirms the government is modelling the implementation of a road user charge only on electric vehicles to make it more expensive to use clean transport.
This is in addition to previous measures which have reported Labor is looking to:
Cut the only federal policy that is driving EV uptake under the Fringe Benefits Tax exemption;
Dismantle the program to build charging stations around the country.
Just six months ago, the Climate Change Authority told the government that to reach its 62% climate target one in every two light vehicles sold between now and 2035 must be electric.
If these policies are implemented, Labor would slow down our transition off oil imports, keep Australia more exposed to global oil upsets and keep transport costs high for Australian motorists flailing under cost-of-living pressures.
As stated by Leader of the Australian Greens, Larissa Waters:
"We are at the beginning of what is going to be a deep and prolonged oil shock. Billionaires started an illegal war, oil and gas companies are reaping mega profits, and regular people are paying the price.
"It boggles the mind to see the government working up ways to slow down the transition off imported oil. Labor should not need reminding we are staring down the barrel of an oil crisis worse than the twin shocks of the 1970s and the war in Ukraine combined.
"Why on earth are the Treasurer and Energy Minister working up a full body slam against the cleanest and cheapest cars to run available to Australian motorists right now?
"We should be looking at ways to incentivise EV uptake and make them cheaper so more people can afford one, not making them more expensive during a fuel crisis.
"One of the many lessons Labor should take from this crisis is we have to reduce the reliance on imported oil in our economy. Instead, the Government is driving us in the wrong direction up a one way street."
As stated by Elizabeth Watson-Brown MP, Greens spokesperson for Infrastructure, Transport and Sustainable Cities:
"Why would the government make it harder to switch to EVs during an unprecedented oil crisis? It's absolute insanity.
"EVs are more accessible than they've ever been, but now while petrol prices are skyrocketing and millions of Australians are thinking of making the switch, the government instead wants to slam on the brakes."
