‘Dirty car capital of the world’: Government’s plan slammed

New South Wales Treasurer Dominic Perrottet will cement his state's status as the dirty car capital of the world if he follows through with a scheme to whack a tax on electric vehicles, according to the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC). 

EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari said the Treasurer's puzzling position, if retained, would be a crushing disappointment to those who could see the abundant potential of electric vehicles for NSW

"No other jurisdiction in the world – aside from the South Australian Coalition Government this week – has thought it sensible to apply a special new tax to electric vehicles," Mr Jafari said.

"Yes, in the long run governments won't be receiving as much in fuel excise as people drive more efficient vehicles. But that's a good thing. Burning less foreign oil in our cars is good for our city air, it's good for our health, it's good for our climate, and it's good for our economic sovereignty.

"The money paid in fuel excise doesn't get quarantined for roads. That's a myth. If tax is dwindling from one area, governments don't have to make it up from that same area. That would be like whacking a new tax on nicotine gum because you're worried about a drop in the tobacco excise. It's madness. 

"One day, when electric vehicles start becoming common place, the time may come to consider new taxes. But at this point in our history, when we should be doing everything possible to encourage people to switch to electric vehicles, this tax would be pure poison.

"Of all the jurisdictions in the world NSW would have to be one of the last who should worry about the speed of EV uptake. NSW is already languishing up the back of the pack in the global race toward electric vehicles. Mr Perrottet now wants to blow out our tyres.

"Modelling by EY, released just weeks ago, shows every electric car sold today is a net win for government coffers and a net win for the economy more broadly. Why would any government try to discourage that?

"As any Liberal worth their salt will tell you, when you whack a big new tax on something you discourage its use. That's exactly what would happen here to the detriment of every citizen in NSW – and to the detriment of the planet.

"NSW is already a global dirty car magnet because other nations have restrictions on emissions. Mr Perrottet's plan would well and truly cement that status."

Do you think there should be a new tax for electric vehicles? Or do you think governments should be encouraging their use?

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21 comments

I don't know either BeeMee, but that number does seem rather small. I am noticing more and more of them appearing on our roads. Maybe I am just now becoming aware of them, and while I certainly wouldn't call them commonplace I am a little surprised at how many I have noticed recently on our frequent trips towards the city. Mostly Teslas.

Must be a lot of people with a lot of money to burn to buy a Tesla? $132.000 basic right? Plus where are all the charging points/stations? Electric cars ok for big cities - not places like Oz right now (just my opinion) I wouldn't fancy driving Interstate (to any State) from Melbourne in an electric car! Charge time is 7 hours plus right? (not 100% sure on that tho')

Depending where one is travelling can go for hours without even seeing a petrol station...they gonna' put charging posts along the Nullarbor? Probably in years to come.

There are just over 20,000 electric cars in Oz - as at the of end of 2020 ...(sorry Beemee not being a "smart ass" but you peaked my interest as to how many were here) and I did Google it! .... actually come to think of it a lot of them are "duel" - as in they have a petrol tank as well?

Oh what would a "Fox" know anyway haha - I just happily roam the countryside without a care in the world! (Least I can sneak thru Border closures!) :))

Charging stations seem to be popping up like mushrooms too. Our local garage has them, as do various supermarkets around here. Also, I noticed a heap of them in the parking area of the medical centres at Springfield when we were living in Ipswich. Ipswich council even had an electric bus that trundled around Springfield or somewhere as I recall, not sure if that is still operating.

I agree that electric vehicles are probably good town cars but for country travelling - nup, they wouldn't cut the mustard. But I guess if you can afford a Tesla, you can also afford to fly to the country, maybe even own your own plane. LOL You have a point though, the ones I am seeing are probably dual, both petrol and electric, makes sense.

Some of them already have a range of 400kms, so they would be fine for country traveling.

Google EV charging stations around Australia and the Nullarbor has been done a number of times.

Thanks McDaddy, good to know.

I read 800 was just 100% electric, it didn't account for hybrids.

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