Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Higgins, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A single tax cut was all it took to fire the gun on the EV race in Australia. Since the Albanese government waived FBT and import duties on select EVs last year—a tax cut which the 'party of low taxes' opposed—Australians have burst out of the blocks with unprecedented EV uptake. Sales are up 87 per cent, a boom in demand that is testament to a government that is honouring its promises to decarbonise transport and make EVs more affordable. And it can't happen too soon, with irritation at the bowser sending more and more Australians straight into the EV showroom.

After a decade of policy neglect and lack of vision, Australians can't afford to fall any further behind in the EV race. We are investing half a billion dollars towards a national EV strategy, to ensure charging stations every 150 kilometres and to spur investment in future fuels like green hydrogen.

In Higgins, we'll be early adopters of EVs. I'm already seeing increasing numbers of EVs on our roads since I came to office. I invite you, my constituents, to join me at my EV forum at Malvern Town Hall on 24 March, where you can hear from BYD, Mercedes, BMW, Polestar, Nissan and, of course, Hyundai. Come and meet the makers.