Joint Statement - Real solutions for cheaper, greener transport for Victorian families

Joint Statement – Real solutions for cheaper, greener transport for Victorian families 

Matt Guy, Leader of the Opposition

David Southwick, Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change

24 October 2022.

A Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will pause the Electric Vehicle Tax and establish 600 new charging stations across the state as part of our Long-Term Economic Plan for Victoria.

We want to reward hard-working Victorian families, and by reducing the barriers in getting an electric vehicle we can save more drivers the hip-pocket pain at the petrol bowser.

The Liberals and Nationals will pause Labor’s new Electric Vehicle Tax until 2027, in line with New South Wales, to encourage more people to purchase an electric vehicle and save drivers the tax-hit they face for every kilometre they drive under Daniel Andrews’ Labor.

The pause will save electric vehicle and hydrogen vehicle drivers 2.6c per kilometre, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle drivers 2.1c per kilometre. This means, an electric vehicle driver in Melbourne with a 40 kilometre return commute each day could save around $380 a year, while a plug-in hybrid driver could save over $300.

We will also establish a new $50 million Community Charging Fund to leverage co-investment with businesses and community organisations including councils to install 600 new charging stations across Victoria. This co-investment could bring the total investment in new charging stations to $100 million.

By increasing the availability of charging stations we will remove one of the barriers that stop people from buying an electric vehicle, unlocking the hip-pocket savings and emissions reductions.

Only the Liberals and Nationals have a Long-Term Economic Plan for Victoria. Under the plan, we will control debt and stop wasteful spending, cut taxes, support small businesses, reward hard-working families, and boost home ownership.

Leader of the Liberal Party, Matt Guy, said cutting taxes, like Daniel Andrews’ Electric Vehicle Tax, was part of the Liberals and Nationals’ Long-Term Economic Plan.

“We can afford to make this modest tax cut and investment in charging stations because we will put an end to Daniel Andrews’ era of spiralling debt and higher taxes,” Matt Guy said.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, David Southwick, said extra charging stations would make a significant difference, particularly for those Victorians looking to switch to an electric vehicle.

“By rolling out an extra 600 charging stations across the state, we will boost charging access and reduce the barriers to entering the electric vehicle market,” David Southwick said.

“The more electric vehicles we have on our roads, the more Victorians can save on spiralling fuel costs and we can achieve our emissions reductions targets.”

Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, James Newbury, said more electric vehicles would help to achieve the Liberals and Nationals’ emissions reductions targets.

“Only the Liberals and Nationals have a legislated target of a 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, and the announcement today will help to achieve this.”

These transport savings are the latest in a suite of policies to reward hard-working Victorians with the cost of getting around, including cutting the uber and taxi tax to save passengers more than $1 on every trip, our $2 flat fares for local train, tram and bus travel, halving of all V/Line fares and plans for a new Fuel Watch App that can save Victorians $800 a year.

The modest and responsible Electric Vehicle Tax pause will cost $82.2 million over the next four years, and the Community Charging Fund will cost $50 million over the next four years.

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change

David Southwick, Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables

Matt Guy, Leader of the Opposition