The Electric Vehicle Council is urging the Victorian Government to demonstrate its commitment to tackling climate change by scrapping its destructive EV tax, in the wake of a newly announced High Court challenge brought by two Victoria EV drivers.
EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari said he was deeply sympathetic to the plaintiffs in the case.
"I'm not surprised to hear there are grounds for a legal challenge, this plan was developed in secret without consultation with experts and has been rejected as premature and destructive by every other government in Australia," Mr Jafari said.
"It is fundamentally unfair for the state government to punish Victorians who made the socially and environmentally responsible choice to select an electric vehicle over a combustion engine alternative.
"People who buy EVs instead of ICE vehicles a making the civic-minded choice. They are helping clean the air of the pollution, reduce the state's carbon emissions, and lessen the state's dependence on foreign oil. For the government of that state to then single them out for special punishment is bizarre and unfair.
"There is nothing wrong with road user charges, but to aim them solely at the most environmentally-responsible form of motor vehicle is totally misguided.
"This case is an opportunity for the Victorian Government to demonstrate its commitment to tackling climate change is real by scrapping this destructive tax and getting on with developing a plan that will accelerate electric vehicle uptake.
"I urge the Victorian Government to listen to reason. Expert after expert has lined up to tell them this tax is misguided. It's not too late to drop it and work with us to support the future of EVs in Victoria, as every other state and territory in Australia is doing."
