Question Time

Electric Vehicles

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): My question is to the Treasurer regarding new taxes. In view of the government's announcement yesterday, will every single plug-in electric vehicle be subject to the new electric vehicle tax, and will there be a sliding scale for plug-in hybrid vehicles, depending how much fuel excise they currently incur?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:22): The government is still working through the details of the implementation of the proposed road user charge for electric vehicles, as I indicated yesterday. We will introduce legislation to test the will of the parliament early in the new year. We are in negotiations with one or two other state or territory jurisdictions in relation to agreed positions in relation to the implementation of the road user charge. So, details beyond what I announced yesterday—which was zero emission and plug-in hybrids—in terms of further detail, we are still working through that further detail, and that will be apparent once the legislation is introduced.

I do note today amongst the many comment pieces from people, both strongly for and strongly opposed to the proposed road user charge, that Mr Steve Shearer did indicate that he had been in negotiation with the former Labor government prior to the election in relation to the implementation of a road user charge for electric vehicles. We are aware of significant detail of the planning underway by the former Labor government in terms of—should they have been elected—to have implemented similar policies.