Australia continues to fall behind the rest of the world as the Morrison Government’s plan for electric vehicles remains stuck in reverse.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the Morrison Government had failed to commit to any targets or actions in this week’s pre-election $2 billion Climate Solutions Fund announcement.
“We should be grateful that the Morrison Government finally acknowledged climate change exists, but the Prime Minister’s announcement was frustratingly devoid of real targets or genuine ambition for electric vehicles,” Mr Bailey said.
“There was a one page fact sheet talking about a National Electric Vehicle Strategy but no actual strategy to match it.
“There was no target for electric vehicles in government fleets, no talk of vehicle emission standards, no agenda for charging stations and infrastructure.
“This is despite a Senate report just last month saying the development of a national electric vehicle strategy should be a priority for the Australian Government.
“The Morrison Government has shown once again that instead of leading the transition to new technology and zero emission vehicles, it continues to ignore them and miss out on the job opportunities they can create.”
Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government had been calling for a national strategy for electric vehicles ever since Queensland developed its own electric vehicle strategy – the first of its kind in Australia – in October 2017.
“Electric vehicles aren’t just coming, they’re here,” Mr Bailey said.
“Queensland is leading the nation through our Electric Super Highway (QESH) – the world’s longest EV charging network in a single state and an infrastructure investment that is determining car maker policy for the entire country.
“We’ve installed 17 charging stations from Coolangatta to Cairns and have made charging free and green to encourage more people to use them.
“The fact that drivers can now travel about 1,800km up the Queensland coast using the latest EV charging technology has given international car manufacturers like Hyundai the impetus it needed to bring its IONIQ EV to Australia, choosing Queensland as its launchpad into the Australian market.
“During a visit to Hyundai’s Korean headquarters last year, the Premier learned it was Queensland’s super electric highway that prompted the company to change the design of the charging plug that will be used by most of its models to be sold in Australia.
“Before the last election we made a commitment to build on our investment with a further $2.5 million to reduce the distance between the charging stations along the QESH.
“Up to 13 more locations will be announced later this year because the only way to get more people using electric vehicles is by building infrastructure to support motorists.”
Mr Bailey said the emergence of electric vehicles would drive new industries and jobs.
“Brisbane-based EV charging stations manufacturer Tritium is changing the face of the global EV industry and is already a home-grown Queensland success story,” Mr Bailey said.
“Tritium employs more than 250 staff, exports to 26 countries and is powering electric vehicles around the globe.
“Given how far behind the rest of the world we are here in Australia, consulting with experts like Tritium on how we catch up is essential.
“That’s why I chaired the first meeting of the Queensland Electric Vehicle Committee in 2018. This group provides a forum for industry, government and the community to discuss key priorities that will encourage a higher uptake of electric vehicles in Queensland and gives me the insights I need to push for more leadership from Canberra.
“As cheaper models come on to the market and consumer support for electric vehicles grows, Australia’s lack of coordinated leadership to meet this demand will be badly exposed.”
The Palaszczuk Government is investing in more industries, more ideas and even more jobs.
More than 180,000 jobs have been created since the Palaszczuk Government was first elected in 2015, including 3,500 full time jobs last month.
