Electric Vehicles

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:47): My question is to the Premier. Did the Premier consult with his Climate Change Council before announcing his new electric car tax?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:47): Thank you for the question, an important question. It has been made very clear that we have consulted and there is still more consultation to go. There is plenty more to go. As it happens, I have a meeting this afternoon with the chair of the Premier's Climate Change Council. We have announced our intention. We have made it very clear that we will develop the model in more detail, that we will consult all along the way. That consultation will be broad and deep. We will do exactly that.

Again, I say it will come to parliament. Everybody here will have the opportunity to consider what is put on the table in front of them. There is no secret here. It was made clear in many different ways over the last 48 or so hours that there has been consultation enough and enough other examples around the world to give us confidence that this is the right way to go. But we will do more consultation as we work our way through it and develop the model in more detail. We have a broad structure. We will develop more detail and we will consult with as many people as we possibly can and as we think is appropriate on this issue.

Let me just come back to the core component here. I would be very surprised—very, very surprised—if those opposite actually wanted to penalise all of the people in their electorates who drive petrol and diesel vehicles by making sure that a smaller and smaller percentage of the total vehicle fleet over time, i.e., those who drive petrol and diesel vehicles, need to actually fund the entire road use. I would be very surprised.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: But they don't. It's not how fuel excise works.

The SPEAKER: Order, member for West Torrens!

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: It's not how fuel excise works; it's pretty simple.

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens will cease interjecting. The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I would be very surprised if the members opposite wanted to penalise all their constituents who drive petrol and diesel vehicles by making sure that that cohort, which over time will become a smaller and smaller percentage of the fleet, has to still fund the entire 100 per cent contribution. So, as we—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Elizabeth is called to order.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee will cease interjecting. The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: How about if I use the numbers that I mentioned before? It is predicted by the Australian government that, in 2025, 27 per cent of the passenger vehicle fleet across Australia will be electric vehicles. Do those members opposite genuinely want the other 73 per cent that remains to be the only ones who make this contribution? I am sure they do not. I am sure they do not want to penalise that other 73 per cent. Let me say again: we will consult on this; we will consult with everybody.

The question was particularly about the Premier's Climate Change Council. Yes, of course they will be considered as well—yes, of course they will be. As I said, I have a meeting with the chair of that council this afternoon.

This is part of an $18.3 million program to improve the charging network, to get smart charging available and also to use the $80 million state government budget on fleet vehicles to make sure that the cost of these vehicles goes down and down, to make sure that concerns about range anxiety go down and down, and it's going to work.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker: his time has expired.

The SPEAKER: Order! I have the point of order. The minister's time has expired.