SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LEADER OF THE NATIONALS IN THE SENATE
18 January 2024
Media Release
Labor puts net zero at risk with ‘EV only’ focus
Labor is putting at risk Australia’s ability to meet its net zero by 2050 target by turning its back on potential solutions to help reduce transport sector emissions.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the Albanese Government’s singular focus on electric vehicles will undermine the country’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.
“Labor’s EV or bust policy is setting Australia up to fail,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The transport sector accounts for up to 19 per cent of Australia’s emissions, of which 60 per cent comes from passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
“There are a range of vehicle technologies that can make a powerful contribution to lowering Australia’s transport emissions, but the Albanese Government is putting all its eggs into one basket.
Senator McKenzie said if the Government was serious about reducing transport sector emissions, it would establish an inquiry to support the transition to hybrids, hydrogen, bio-diesel and other vehicle technologies, not restricting our options solely to EVs.
“Developments overseas suggest Australia should be cautious about putting all our chips on the one square.
“An inability to sell EVs has resulted in auto manufacturers in the United States putting on ice planned investments in electric vehicle production and auto-dealers across the country calling on President Biden to remove his EV mandates,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Australians love their utes and SUVs and will not thank a government that forces them to drive less powerful cars that cannot meet performance expectations.
Senator McKenzie said the Government should expand the terms of reference for its new inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles to include all low-emission technologies, as well as looking into the potential impact on the cost of purchasing new and second-hand cars from proposed policy changes such as Labor’s long overdue vehicle emissions standard.
ENDS