7th Dec 2020, 4:18 PM – Senate Motions - Electric Vehicles - National Electric Vehicle strategy

The majority voted against a motion introduced by SA Senator Rex Patrick (Independent), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Government has failed to deliver the National Electric Vehicle strategy it promised in 2019,

(ii) the Government has ignored the findings and recommendations of the 2019 Senate select committee inquiry on electric vehicles,

(iii) the Government has overlooked evidence provided by the Parliamentary Budget Office in 2019, which proves the viability of a budget-neutral electric vehicle transition,

(iv) in the absence of a National Electric Vehicle strategy a piecemeal state-by-state approach is unfolding, which is leading to inconsistent taxation and apprehension that is a disincentive to electric vehicle uptake, and

(v) the Government's 'technology not taxes' slogan is inconsistent with its lack of action on the unstoppable adoption of electric vehicle,

(vi) Any road user charge for electric vehicles should be implemented on a national level and not left to the states, and involve close consultation with the public, industry and automobile associations;

(b) condemns the Morrison Government for failing to work with the states on a national approach to the timing and design of road user charges for electric vehicles; and

(c) calls on the Government to provide national leadership on electric vehicles by delivering a standalone National Electric Vehicle strategy.