Barnaby's shot at minister over ‘new' tax
State and federal officials are meeting with motor industry leaders at a summit in Sydney on Monday, where they will discuss a tax as part of brainstorming to fund future roads.
Senior minister Tanya Plibersek played down the talks when appearing on a morning show, saying it was 'a discussion that the states and territories have been leading for some time'. The Albanese government is mulling a road user charge for electric vehicles. Martin Ollman / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
'It's no secret that as the number of petrol vehicles and diesel vehicles goes down, the take from fuel excise decreases,' the former environment minister told Seven's Sunrise.
'That means less money for building and maintaining roads.'
She added 'the Treasurer will be interested in the discussion today' but also noted that Anthony Albanese 'has made clear that our tax priorities are delivering on the tax cut for every Australian that we've promised and making sure that multinational companies pay their fair share'.
Ms Plibersek also said: 'I don't think anything's happening tomorrow'.
Appearing opposite her was Mr Joyce, who put a different spin on Ms Plibersek's support for 'sensible' canvassing of road-funding options.
A hardcore opponent of the Albanese government's green transition, he said it was about time. Nationals heavyweight Barnaby Joyce has welcomed chatter of a road user charge for electric vehicles. Martin Ollman / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
'I have a sense there's a lot of EVs in Tanya's electorate, so she doesn't want to jump right in there,' Mr Joyce said.
'But we out here are overwhelming combustion engines because, as you can see, it is different terrain.
'I feel we are paying the excise that a lot of people are getting away with.'
He also claimed there are no electric utes used in the country after Ms Plibersek said there were.
'Not out here, there isn't. I assure you, not out here. Haven't seen one,' Mr Joyce shot back.
There is precedent for an EV charge.
New Zealand last week captured EVs in plans for a blanket road usage duty for light vehicles.
The duty would be based on distance travelled and vehicle weight rather than a tax at the bowser.
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