Last-minute election arts boost with gallery pledge
Labor has made its biggest arts pledge days out from the election during a campaign in which the sector has barely rated a mention.
The government, which polls tip will return to power after Saturday's vote, committed $35 million for The Fox: NGV Contemporary at the National Gallery of Victoria.
In 2022, logistics magnates Lindsay and Paula Fox donated a record $100 million to build a third NGV gallery, which will be named after them.
The public gallery is part of the $1.7 billion Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project, billed as Australia's largest ever cultural infrastructure build.
The Fox will include 13,000sq m of display space for artworks, as well as a rooftop terrace and sculpture garden.
Once constructed, The Fox: NGV Contemporary will be the nation's biggest gallery dedicated to contemporary art, although it is still some years away.
The construction contract for the project was awarded to Lend Lease in March and the gallery is due to open in 2028.
"We know how important arts and culture is to our community and this funding will showcase Melbourne's talent to the world," Arts Minister Tony Burke said on Thursday.
The NGV is Australia's most-visited public art museum with 2.8 million visitors in 2024.
Its most recent blockbuster show, Yayoi Kusama, saw a record-breaking 570,537 visitors over four months, making it the most popular ticketed exhibition the NGV has ever staged.
The expansion project is expected to attract an additional one or two million visitors annually, adding $2.3 billion to the state's economy.
The Fox gallery will be built on the former site of the Carlton & United Breweries building in Southbank Boulevard, behind NGV International on St Kilda Rd.
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The Advertiser
27 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Archer fires an early shot amid state political turmoil
A former federal Liberal maverick has put her hand up to run in a looming state election, as the opposition likens the premier to a spoiled brat. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to stand down after parliament passed a vote of no-confidence, led by state Labor leader Dean Winter, over the state budget. The starter's gun is yet to be fired on voters heading back to the polls, but the premier could pull the trigger as early as Tuesday. Mr Rockliff wheeled out former federal MP Bridget Archer on Sunday, revealing she would seek preselection for the state seat of Bass. In May, Ms Archer lost her federal seat of Bass to teacher and first-time federal candidate Jess Teesdale after a 9.4 per cent swing against her. Ms Archer admitted the federal election had been "bruising" and she hadn't had time to completely process it. "Do I want to go out and fight another election? No, I don't," she told reporters. "I suspect the people of Tasmania don't want to be going to another election but the reckless and selfish actions of Dean Winter ... have sent us to this situation." The former George Town mayor has been one of the most prominent Liberal moderates in Canberra since 2019 and repeatedly crossed the floor to vote against her own party. Reflecting on her election defeat, Ms Archer said she "wore the consequences" of the Liberals' failure to deal with some of the issues she spoke out against. The 50-year-old denied she was in danger of jumping from one sinking ship to another and vowed not to shy away from her views if elected to state parliament. "I'm not going to be anybody's stooge or anybody's puppet," she said. "I am going to say exactly what I think." Mr Rockliff described Ms Archer as a "fighter" and was categoric he would lead the party to the election. "Dean Winter's guaranteed the election," he said, adding an election date would be determined in the coming week. The election would be Tasmania's fourth in seven years, unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. Mr Winter has ruled out forming government in a deal with the Greens, without whom Labor doesn't have the numbers. The Labor leader is continuing to call for Mr Rockliff to stand aside instead of calling another election. "He's carrying on at the moment like a spoiled child that's been given out in a game of cricket," Mr Winter said. "And then instead of just accepting the umpire's decision he's picking up his bat and ball and going home." Amid the political turmoil, Mr Rockliff has ordered prominent economist Saul Eslake not to prepare a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Winter said he didn't believe Mr Rockliff's commitment not to pursue privatisation, declaring the premier would "say anything" to cling to power. A planned $945 million stadium for Hobart has also been caught in the crossfire of the political chaos. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of the deal to issue a 19th AFL team licence for the Tasmania Devils. Both major party leaders support the proposed stadium but special legislation to grant it planning approval has been thrown off course by the motion. Mr Winter took aim at "interstate footy people" for driving a narrative his intervention was "all about the stadium". "If these interstate commentators want to try make this all about a stadium they are severely mistaken," he said. "Tasmanians have got higher priorities." Tasmanian AFL legends Nick and Jack Riewoldt, Matthew Richardson and Brendon Gale have publicly lamented the uncertainty surrounding the stadium and team. Firebrand Senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians who oppose the project. A former federal Liberal maverick has put her hand up to run in a looming state election, as the opposition likens the premier to a spoiled brat. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to stand down after parliament passed a vote of no-confidence, led by state Labor leader Dean Winter, over the state budget. The starter's gun is yet to be fired on voters heading back to the polls, but the premier could pull the trigger as early as Tuesday. Mr Rockliff wheeled out former federal MP Bridget Archer on Sunday, revealing she would seek preselection for the state seat of Bass. In May, Ms Archer lost her federal seat of Bass to teacher and first-time federal candidate Jess Teesdale after a 9.4 per cent swing against her. Ms Archer admitted the federal election had been "bruising" and she hadn't had time to completely process it. "Do I want to go out and fight another election? No, I don't," she told reporters. "I suspect the people of Tasmania don't want to be going to another election but the reckless and selfish actions of Dean Winter ... have sent us to this situation." The former George Town mayor has been one of the most prominent Liberal moderates in Canberra since 2019 and repeatedly crossed the floor to vote against her own party. Reflecting on her election defeat, Ms Archer said she "wore the consequences" of the Liberals' failure to deal with some of the issues she spoke out against. The 50-year-old denied she was in danger of jumping from one sinking ship to another and vowed not to shy away from her views if elected to state parliament. "I'm not going to be anybody's stooge or anybody's puppet," she said. "I am going to say exactly what I think." Mr Rockliff described Ms Archer as a "fighter" and was categoric he would lead the party to the election. "Dean Winter's guaranteed the election," he said, adding an election date would be determined in the coming week. The election would be Tasmania's fourth in seven years, unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. Mr Winter has ruled out forming government in a deal with the Greens, without whom Labor doesn't have the numbers. The Labor leader is continuing to call for Mr Rockliff to stand aside instead of calling another election. "He's carrying on at the moment like a spoiled child that's been given out in a game of cricket," Mr Winter said. "And then instead of just accepting the umpire's decision he's picking up his bat and ball and going home." Amid the political turmoil, Mr Rockliff has ordered prominent economist Saul Eslake not to prepare a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Winter said he didn't believe Mr Rockliff's commitment not to pursue privatisation, declaring the premier would "say anything" to cling to power. A planned $945 million stadium for Hobart has also been caught in the crossfire of the political chaos. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of the deal to issue a 19th AFL team licence for the Tasmania Devils. Both major party leaders support the proposed stadium but special legislation to grant it planning approval has been thrown off course by the motion. Mr Winter took aim at "interstate footy people" for driving a narrative his intervention was "all about the stadium". "If these interstate commentators want to try make this all about a stadium they are severely mistaken," he said. "Tasmanians have got higher priorities." Tasmanian AFL legends Nick and Jack Riewoldt, Matthew Richardson and Brendon Gale have publicly lamented the uncertainty surrounding the stadium and team. Firebrand Senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians who oppose the project. A former federal Liberal maverick has put her hand up to run in a looming state election, as the opposition likens the premier to a spoiled brat. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to stand down after parliament passed a vote of no-confidence, led by state Labor leader Dean Winter, over the state budget. The starter's gun is yet to be fired on voters heading back to the polls, but the premier could pull the trigger as early as Tuesday. Mr Rockliff wheeled out former federal MP Bridget Archer on Sunday, revealing she would seek preselection for the state seat of Bass. In May, Ms Archer lost her federal seat of Bass to teacher and first-time federal candidate Jess Teesdale after a 9.4 per cent swing against her. Ms Archer admitted the federal election had been "bruising" and she hadn't had time to completely process it. "Do I want to go out and fight another election? No, I don't," she told reporters. "I suspect the people of Tasmania don't want to be going to another election but the reckless and selfish actions of Dean Winter ... have sent us to this situation." The former George Town mayor has been one of the most prominent Liberal moderates in Canberra since 2019 and repeatedly crossed the floor to vote against her own party. Reflecting on her election defeat, Ms Archer said she "wore the consequences" of the Liberals' failure to deal with some of the issues she spoke out against. The 50-year-old denied she was in danger of jumping from one sinking ship to another and vowed not to shy away from her views if elected to state parliament. "I'm not going to be anybody's stooge or anybody's puppet," she said. "I am going to say exactly what I think." Mr Rockliff described Ms Archer as a "fighter" and was categoric he would lead the party to the election. "Dean Winter's guaranteed the election," he said, adding an election date would be determined in the coming week. The election would be Tasmania's fourth in seven years, unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. Mr Winter has ruled out forming government in a deal with the Greens, without whom Labor doesn't have the numbers. The Labor leader is continuing to call for Mr Rockliff to stand aside instead of calling another election. "He's carrying on at the moment like a spoiled child that's been given out in a game of cricket," Mr Winter said. "And then instead of just accepting the umpire's decision he's picking up his bat and ball and going home." Amid the political turmoil, Mr Rockliff has ordered prominent economist Saul Eslake not to prepare a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Winter said he didn't believe Mr Rockliff's commitment not to pursue privatisation, declaring the premier would "say anything" to cling to power. A planned $945 million stadium for Hobart has also been caught in the crossfire of the political chaos. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of the deal to issue a 19th AFL team licence for the Tasmania Devils. Both major party leaders support the proposed stadium but special legislation to grant it planning approval has been thrown off course by the motion. Mr Winter took aim at "interstate footy people" for driving a narrative his intervention was "all about the stadium". "If these interstate commentators want to try make this all about a stadium they are severely mistaken," he said. "Tasmanians have got higher priorities." Tasmanian AFL legends Nick and Jack Riewoldt, Matthew Richardson and Brendon Gale have publicly lamented the uncertainty surrounding the stadium and team. Firebrand Senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians who oppose the project. A former federal Liberal maverick has put her hand up to run in a looming state election, as the opposition likens the premier to a spoiled brat. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to stand down after parliament passed a vote of no-confidence, led by state Labor leader Dean Winter, over the state budget. The starter's gun is yet to be fired on voters heading back to the polls, but the premier could pull the trigger as early as Tuesday. Mr Rockliff wheeled out former federal MP Bridget Archer on Sunday, revealing she would seek preselection for the state seat of Bass. In May, Ms Archer lost her federal seat of Bass to teacher and first-time federal candidate Jess Teesdale after a 9.4 per cent swing against her. Ms Archer admitted the federal election had been "bruising" and she hadn't had time to completely process it. "Do I want to go out and fight another election? No, I don't," she told reporters. "I suspect the people of Tasmania don't want to be going to another election but the reckless and selfish actions of Dean Winter ... have sent us to this situation." The former George Town mayor has been one of the most prominent Liberal moderates in Canberra since 2019 and repeatedly crossed the floor to vote against her own party. Reflecting on her election defeat, Ms Archer said she "wore the consequences" of the Liberals' failure to deal with some of the issues she spoke out against. The 50-year-old denied she was in danger of jumping from one sinking ship to another and vowed not to shy away from her views if elected to state parliament. "I'm not going to be anybody's stooge or anybody's puppet," she said. "I am going to say exactly what I think." Mr Rockliff described Ms Archer as a "fighter" and was categoric he would lead the party to the election. "Dean Winter's guaranteed the election," he said, adding an election date would be determined in the coming week. The election would be Tasmania's fourth in seven years, unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. Mr Winter has ruled out forming government in a deal with the Greens, without whom Labor doesn't have the numbers. The Labor leader is continuing to call for Mr Rockliff to stand aside instead of calling another election. "He's carrying on at the moment like a spoiled child that's been given out in a game of cricket," Mr Winter said. "And then instead of just accepting the umpire's decision he's picking up his bat and ball and going home." Amid the political turmoil, Mr Rockliff has ordered prominent economist Saul Eslake not to prepare a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Winter said he didn't believe Mr Rockliff's commitment not to pursue privatisation, declaring the premier would "say anything" to cling to power. A planned $945 million stadium for Hobart has also been caught in the crossfire of the political chaos. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of the deal to issue a 19th AFL team licence for the Tasmania Devils. Both major party leaders support the proposed stadium but special legislation to grant it planning approval has been thrown off course by the motion. Mr Winter took aim at "interstate footy people" for driving a narrative his intervention was "all about the stadium". "If these interstate commentators want to try make this all about a stadium they are severely mistaken," he said. "Tasmanians have got higher priorities." Tasmanian AFL legends Nick and Jack Riewoldt, Matthew Richardson and Brendon Gale have publicly lamented the uncertainty surrounding the stadium and team. Firebrand Senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians who oppose the project.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Liberals concede tax cut stance a 'strategic mistake'
The coalition's new finance spokesman has conceded campaigning against tax cuts was a significant error, promising to push for lower rates in the next term of parliament. James Paterson said the coalition's position against Labor's two-part tax cuts, which would be a reduction of more than $500 a year from July 2027, had cost votes at the May election. While a review of policies was being carried out after the election loss, Senator Paterson said lower taxes would be a significant part of the platform. "We made a strategic mistake at the last election by opposing a tax cut and taking to the election repealing of that tax cut, and that's not a mistake we'll repeat," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "It's certainly in the Liberal Party's DNA to argue for and advocate for lower taxes whenever they can be afforded and whenever they are achievable." It comes as the coalition has come out against Labor's policy to double the tax rate on superannuation balances above $3 million. The tax rate would increase to 30 per cent in a bid to limit the number of people using their super balances for tax deductions, rather than their retirements. Senator Paterson said the policy was a grab for revenue. "We're never going to make that easier for the government, and we're fighting this because we're opposed to it in principle and we're proud to do so," he said. The median super balance for 60 to 64-year-olds is roughly $200,000 for men and $150,000 for women, with the vast majority of retirees unlikely to feel the impact of Labor's proposal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday said the changes would make the superannuation system fairer. Opposition industrial relations spokesman Tim Wilson said the government had broken trust with voters on the proposal. "Many people walked into the polling booth at the last election didn't think that the government was going to impose a new tax on unsold assets that was going progressively creep into the superannuation balances of millions of Australians," he told Sky News. The coalition's new finance spokesman has conceded campaigning against tax cuts was a significant error, promising to push for lower rates in the next term of parliament. James Paterson said the coalition's position against Labor's two-part tax cuts, which would be a reduction of more than $500 a year from July 2027, had cost votes at the May election. While a review of policies was being carried out after the election loss, Senator Paterson said lower taxes would be a significant part of the platform. "We made a strategic mistake at the last election by opposing a tax cut and taking to the election repealing of that tax cut, and that's not a mistake we'll repeat," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "It's certainly in the Liberal Party's DNA to argue for and advocate for lower taxes whenever they can be afforded and whenever they are achievable." It comes as the coalition has come out against Labor's policy to double the tax rate on superannuation balances above $3 million. The tax rate would increase to 30 per cent in a bid to limit the number of people using their super balances for tax deductions, rather than their retirements. Senator Paterson said the policy was a grab for revenue. "We're never going to make that easier for the government, and we're fighting this because we're opposed to it in principle and we're proud to do so," he said. The median super balance for 60 to 64-year-olds is roughly $200,000 for men and $150,000 for women, with the vast majority of retirees unlikely to feel the impact of Labor's proposal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday said the changes would make the superannuation system fairer. Opposition industrial relations spokesman Tim Wilson said the government had broken trust with voters on the proposal. "Many people walked into the polling booth at the last election didn't think that the government was going to impose a new tax on unsold assets that was going progressively creep into the superannuation balances of millions of Australians," he told Sky News. The coalition's new finance spokesman has conceded campaigning against tax cuts was a significant error, promising to push for lower rates in the next term of parliament. James Paterson said the coalition's position against Labor's two-part tax cuts, which would be a reduction of more than $500 a year from July 2027, had cost votes at the May election. While a review of policies was being carried out after the election loss, Senator Paterson said lower taxes would be a significant part of the platform. "We made a strategic mistake at the last election by opposing a tax cut and taking to the election repealing of that tax cut, and that's not a mistake we'll repeat," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "It's certainly in the Liberal Party's DNA to argue for and advocate for lower taxes whenever they can be afforded and whenever they are achievable." It comes as the coalition has come out against Labor's policy to double the tax rate on superannuation balances above $3 million. The tax rate would increase to 30 per cent in a bid to limit the number of people using their super balances for tax deductions, rather than their retirements. Senator Paterson said the policy was a grab for revenue. "We're never going to make that easier for the government, and we're fighting this because we're opposed to it in principle and we're proud to do so," he said. The median super balance for 60 to 64-year-olds is roughly $200,000 for men and $150,000 for women, with the vast majority of retirees unlikely to feel the impact of Labor's proposal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday said the changes would make the superannuation system fairer. Opposition industrial relations spokesman Tim Wilson said the government had broken trust with voters on the proposal. "Many people walked into the polling booth at the last election didn't think that the government was going to impose a new tax on unsold assets that was going progressively creep into the superannuation balances of millions of Australians," he told Sky News. The coalition's new finance spokesman has conceded campaigning against tax cuts was a significant error, promising to push for lower rates in the next term of parliament. James Paterson said the coalition's position against Labor's two-part tax cuts, which would be a reduction of more than $500 a year from July 2027, had cost votes at the May election. While a review of policies was being carried out after the election loss, Senator Paterson said lower taxes would be a significant part of the platform. "We made a strategic mistake at the last election by opposing a tax cut and taking to the election repealing of that tax cut, and that's not a mistake we'll repeat," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "It's certainly in the Liberal Party's DNA to argue for and advocate for lower taxes whenever they can be afforded and whenever they are achievable." It comes as the coalition has come out against Labor's policy to double the tax rate on superannuation balances above $3 million. The tax rate would increase to 30 per cent in a bid to limit the number of people using their super balances for tax deductions, rather than their retirements. Senator Paterson said the policy was a grab for revenue. "We're never going to make that easier for the government, and we're fighting this because we're opposed to it in principle and we're proud to do so," he said. The median super balance for 60 to 64-year-olds is roughly $200,000 for men and $150,000 for women, with the vast majority of retirees unlikely to feel the impact of Labor's proposal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday said the changes would make the superannuation system fairer. Opposition industrial relations spokesman Tim Wilson said the government had broken trust with voters on the proposal. "Many people walked into the polling booth at the last election didn't think that the government was going to impose a new tax on unsold assets that was going progressively creep into the superannuation balances of millions of Australians," he told Sky News.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Hyundai expects an exodus of brands due to new Australian emissions regulations
Australia's stringent new vehicle emissions regulations are set to send a host of auto brands running from these shores, according to local Hyundai chief Don Romano. The ink officially dried on the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) at the start of this year, bringing with it legislation designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the Australian car market. While the NVES came into effect on January 1, 2025, penalties won't start being accrued until July 1. The recent federal election brought with it some uncertainty about the NVES, with former Liberal leader Peter Dutton promising to scrap the legislation. However, in the wake of Labor's win led by Anthony Albanese, there's no longer any doubt about whether it will be enforced. Speaking to CarExpert at the launch of the pint-size Hyundai Inster electric SUV, Mr Romano said that many automakers will be caught off guard by the punitive new regulations. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "When it comes down to NVES, there's going to be a lot of brands that are going to start falling apart because they're burying their heads in the sand," said Mr Romano. "They're not doing the math, they're not looking at just how much this is going to cost them to stay in business in Australia. "I think you're going to see an exodus. You're going to see a number of brands that finally say 'I can't do it', unless the government that we just re-elected makes the decision to go in a different direction, which I think is unlikely given the election results." Hyundai has backed the NVES from early in the piece, expressing confidence in meeting the Australian Government's tightening CO2 targets between 2025 and 2029. However, some of its rivals have been less supportive and others including Toyota have indicated that fines would ultimately be passed onto consumers in the form of price hikes. Having taken over as Hyundai Australia CEO just a few months ago, Mr Romano will lead the brand in its response to NVES with a focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and other 'future energy' initiatives. "Let's do it like Europe, [where] they're just going, 'okay, we've got to live with it, let's deal with it'. And guess what we're seeing right now in Europe? A resurgence in EVs," he said. While Hyundai is prepared to tackle tightening emissions regulations, Mr Romano still sees significant room for improvement in how policy is used to accelerate the transition towards greener forms of transport. "What the government is doing is half-baked," he concluded. "They're pushing us to move to BEVs, only us. What they're missing, not just in Australia but everywhere, is the fact that the gas [petroleum] companies aren't being pushed to put in the charging infrastructure. "If you were to do that, I think that resurgence would push even higher. Right now we're at 20 per cent BEVs in Europe, with a much more robust charging infrastructure. "Once you start doing that, then you start getting economies of scale, and then all the costs start to come down. At that point you're going to see all the advantages of BEVs, and they'll be less expensive ultimately than an ICE vehicle. "The only way to get there… is to have a more robust charging infrastructure that engenders a lot of confidence in buyers to buy." Less than one in 10 vehicles sold in Australia last year were EVs (91,292 of more than 1.22 million), although that number was up 4.7 per cent on the previous year. MORE: Everything Hyundai MORE: How Hyundai Australia's new boss plans to reverse Korean brand's sales slide Content originally sourced from: Australia's stringent new vehicle emissions regulations are set to send a host of auto brands running from these shores, according to local Hyundai chief Don Romano. The ink officially dried on the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) at the start of this year, bringing with it legislation designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the Australian car market. While the NVES came into effect on January 1, 2025, penalties won't start being accrued until July 1. The recent federal election brought with it some uncertainty about the NVES, with former Liberal leader Peter Dutton promising to scrap the legislation. However, in the wake of Labor's win led by Anthony Albanese, there's no longer any doubt about whether it will be enforced. Speaking to CarExpert at the launch of the pint-size Hyundai Inster electric SUV, Mr Romano said that many automakers will be caught off guard by the punitive new regulations. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "When it comes down to NVES, there's going to be a lot of brands that are going to start falling apart because they're burying their heads in the sand," said Mr Romano. "They're not doing the math, they're not looking at just how much this is going to cost them to stay in business in Australia. "I think you're going to see an exodus. You're going to see a number of brands that finally say 'I can't do it', unless the government that we just re-elected makes the decision to go in a different direction, which I think is unlikely given the election results." Hyundai has backed the NVES from early in the piece, expressing confidence in meeting the Australian Government's tightening CO2 targets between 2025 and 2029. However, some of its rivals have been less supportive and others including Toyota have indicated that fines would ultimately be passed onto consumers in the form of price hikes. Having taken over as Hyundai Australia CEO just a few months ago, Mr Romano will lead the brand in its response to NVES with a focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and other 'future energy' initiatives. "Let's do it like Europe, [where] they're just going, 'okay, we've got to live with it, let's deal with it'. And guess what we're seeing right now in Europe? A resurgence in EVs," he said. While Hyundai is prepared to tackle tightening emissions regulations, Mr Romano still sees significant room for improvement in how policy is used to accelerate the transition towards greener forms of transport. "What the government is doing is half-baked," he concluded. "They're pushing us to move to BEVs, only us. What they're missing, not just in Australia but everywhere, is the fact that the gas [petroleum] companies aren't being pushed to put in the charging infrastructure. "If you were to do that, I think that resurgence would push even higher. Right now we're at 20 per cent BEVs in Europe, with a much more robust charging infrastructure. "Once you start doing that, then you start getting economies of scale, and then all the costs start to come down. At that point you're going to see all the advantages of BEVs, and they'll be less expensive ultimately than an ICE vehicle. "The only way to get there… is to have a more robust charging infrastructure that engenders a lot of confidence in buyers to buy." Less than one in 10 vehicles sold in Australia last year were EVs (91,292 of more than 1.22 million), although that number was up 4.7 per cent on the previous year. MORE: Everything Hyundai MORE: How Hyundai Australia's new boss plans to reverse Korean brand's sales slide Content originally sourced from: Australia's stringent new vehicle emissions regulations are set to send a host of auto brands running from these shores, according to local Hyundai chief Don Romano. The ink officially dried on the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) at the start of this year, bringing with it legislation designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the Australian car market. While the NVES came into effect on January 1, 2025, penalties won't start being accrued until July 1. The recent federal election brought with it some uncertainty about the NVES, with former Liberal leader Peter Dutton promising to scrap the legislation. However, in the wake of Labor's win led by Anthony Albanese, there's no longer any doubt about whether it will be enforced. Speaking to CarExpert at the launch of the pint-size Hyundai Inster electric SUV, Mr Romano said that many automakers will be caught off guard by the punitive new regulations. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "When it comes down to NVES, there's going to be a lot of brands that are going to start falling apart because they're burying their heads in the sand," said Mr Romano. "They're not doing the math, they're not looking at just how much this is going to cost them to stay in business in Australia. "I think you're going to see an exodus. You're going to see a number of brands that finally say 'I can't do it', unless the government that we just re-elected makes the decision to go in a different direction, which I think is unlikely given the election results." Hyundai has backed the NVES from early in the piece, expressing confidence in meeting the Australian Government's tightening CO2 targets between 2025 and 2029. However, some of its rivals have been less supportive and others including Toyota have indicated that fines would ultimately be passed onto consumers in the form of price hikes. Having taken over as Hyundai Australia CEO just a few months ago, Mr Romano will lead the brand in its response to NVES with a focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and other 'future energy' initiatives. "Let's do it like Europe, [where] they're just going, 'okay, we've got to live with it, let's deal with it'. And guess what we're seeing right now in Europe? A resurgence in EVs," he said. While Hyundai is prepared to tackle tightening emissions regulations, Mr Romano still sees significant room for improvement in how policy is used to accelerate the transition towards greener forms of transport. "What the government is doing is half-baked," he concluded. "They're pushing us to move to BEVs, only us. What they're missing, not just in Australia but everywhere, is the fact that the gas [petroleum] companies aren't being pushed to put in the charging infrastructure. "If you were to do that, I think that resurgence would push even higher. Right now we're at 20 per cent BEVs in Europe, with a much more robust charging infrastructure. "Once you start doing that, then you start getting economies of scale, and then all the costs start to come down. At that point you're going to see all the advantages of BEVs, and they'll be less expensive ultimately than an ICE vehicle. "The only way to get there… is to have a more robust charging infrastructure that engenders a lot of confidence in buyers to buy." Less than one in 10 vehicles sold in Australia last year were EVs (91,292 of more than 1.22 million), although that number was up 4.7 per cent on the previous year. MORE: Everything Hyundai MORE: How Hyundai Australia's new boss plans to reverse Korean brand's sales slide Content originally sourced from: Australia's stringent new vehicle emissions regulations are set to send a host of auto brands running from these shores, according to local Hyundai chief Don Romano. The ink officially dried on the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) at the start of this year, bringing with it legislation designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the Australian car market. While the NVES came into effect on January 1, 2025, penalties won't start being accrued until July 1. The recent federal election brought with it some uncertainty about the NVES, with former Liberal leader Peter Dutton promising to scrap the legislation. However, in the wake of Labor's win led by Anthony Albanese, there's no longer any doubt about whether it will be enforced. Speaking to CarExpert at the launch of the pint-size Hyundai Inster electric SUV, Mr Romano said that many automakers will be caught off guard by the punitive new regulations. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "When it comes down to NVES, there's going to be a lot of brands that are going to start falling apart because they're burying their heads in the sand," said Mr Romano. "They're not doing the math, they're not looking at just how much this is going to cost them to stay in business in Australia. "I think you're going to see an exodus. You're going to see a number of brands that finally say 'I can't do it', unless the government that we just re-elected makes the decision to go in a different direction, which I think is unlikely given the election results." Hyundai has backed the NVES from early in the piece, expressing confidence in meeting the Australian Government's tightening CO2 targets between 2025 and 2029. However, some of its rivals have been less supportive and others including Toyota have indicated that fines would ultimately be passed onto consumers in the form of price hikes. Having taken over as Hyundai Australia CEO just a few months ago, Mr Romano will lead the brand in its response to NVES with a focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and other 'future energy' initiatives. "Let's do it like Europe, [where] they're just going, 'okay, we've got to live with it, let's deal with it'. And guess what we're seeing right now in Europe? A resurgence in EVs," he said. While Hyundai is prepared to tackle tightening emissions regulations, Mr Romano still sees significant room for improvement in how policy is used to accelerate the transition towards greener forms of transport. "What the government is doing is half-baked," he concluded. "They're pushing us to move to BEVs, only us. What they're missing, not just in Australia but everywhere, is the fact that the gas [petroleum] companies aren't being pushed to put in the charging infrastructure. "If you were to do that, I think that resurgence would push even higher. Right now we're at 20 per cent BEVs in Europe, with a much more robust charging infrastructure. "Once you start doing that, then you start getting economies of scale, and then all the costs start to come down. At that point you're going to see all the advantages of BEVs, and they'll be less expensive ultimately than an ICE vehicle. "The only way to get there… is to have a more robust charging infrastructure that engenders a lot of confidence in buyers to buy." Less than one in 10 vehicles sold in Australia last year were EVs (91,292 of more than 1.22 million), although that number was up 4.7 per cent on the previous year. MORE: Everything Hyundai MORE: How Hyundai Australia's new boss plans to reverse Korean brand's sales slide Content originally sourced from:
