House debates
Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Questions without Notice
Electric Vehicles
2:44 pm
Sam Birrell (Nicholls, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Last year the minister showed off Australia's first EV ute, the LDV eT60, a ute that would cost struggling tradies an extra $46,000. Is it true that the maximum range of this ute is 300 kilometres, the distance from Melbourne to Hamilton, but only if it's empty? Is it also true that, if the back of the ute's fully loaded up, the maximum range drops to 150 kilometres, the distance from Melbourne to Bendigo but not back to Melbourne?
Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Order! The House is going to come to order before the minister speaks.
Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I really do appreciate that question, mainly because, for all those watching at home, it reminds everyone that it hasn't quite reached the National Party that it's 2024! There are options available around the world for electric cars.
Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The minister will pause. That's far too much noise. The yelling is going to stop. Interjecting is one thing. Simply yelling and screaming is not what question time is about.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition, this is deja vu. I don't know how many times I have to say it. When I'm trying to bring the House to order and everyone is being quiet is not the time to interject. You're warned, and I'm going to ask you not to interject for the rest of question time. For the remainder of this answer, interjects, yes, but not the yelling or laughing.
Yes, whispering would be great. Thank you! The member has the call.
Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I'm going to share with the House that I wasn't intending to comment on the price of any particular model, but the member has really tempted me, and I'm going to take up his offer. The honourable member asked me about the LDV eT60 electric ute. I'm going to refer him to an article in Drive newspaper with the headline 'LDV eT60 electric ute now cheaper than its diesel twin but only in New Zealand'. Why is it cheaper in New Zealand but not Australia? New Zealand has vehicle efficiency standards. Australia does not.
Honourable members interjecting —
Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Order, members on my left!
The member for Reid will cease interjecting. The member for Barker, the member for Forrest. When the House comes to order, we will hear from the member for Lingiari.