MEDIA RELEASE

New inquiry into EV Vehicle Adoption in the ACT

A new Committee inquiry into Electric Vehicle Adoption was announced in the Legislative Assembly today.

The Chair of the Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City Services, Ms Jo Clay MLA, said ‘The Inquiry into EV Vehicle Adoption is most timely, especially to establish information on the challenges and opportunities for Canberrans taking up the switch to EV vehicles.

The Terms of Reference comprise eight topics for review (see table, below). A focus will be the issues and skills needed to expand EV vehicle take-up, changing infrastructure required in the Territory, planning, power capability and regulations for the new charging infrastructure, industry development opportunities, application of ACT Government taxes and charges for EV purchases including registration fees, and federal taxes including import charges, and transition assistance for people on low-incomes.

We look forward to hearing from as many people as possible about the key issues – from barriers to EV take-up, possible incentives, ACT Government and private sector strategies and guidance on transport infrastructure needs and planning for the City.’

The Committee invites submissions from industry groups, peak bodies, think tanks, academics, economists, unions and the public.

The Terms of Reference for the inquiry are available on the Committee webpage.

Information about how to make a submission is available on the Assembly website.

Submissions are open until 6 August 2022.

Terms of Reference

That the Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City Services inquire into   barriers to EV uptake and solutions and incentives to encourage uptake in the Territory, including:

  1. Skills development needs to support an expanding EV uptake
  2. Industry development opportunities
  3. Planning laws and regulations and education and promotions in relation to charging infrastructure requirements in a variety of residential, public and commercial configurations and precincts
  4. ACT Government’s role in providing charging infrastructure
  5. Regional charging infrastructure and whether this is a barrier to local uptake, end-of-life battery disposal, and impact of EVs on ACT power supply requirements and vehicle-to-grid issues
  6. Application of Territory taxes and charges for EV purchases including registration   charges.
  7. Federal taxes and charges for EV purchases, including import taxes
  8. Other Federal barriers to EV uptake, cost and availability of EVs, including fuel efficiency standards, impact of EV uptake on existing motor and service   industry sectors including possible transition assistance, equity and just-transition issues for people on lower incomes.

Any other matter relevant to this issue.

1 June 2022

STATEMENT ENDS.

For further information please contact:

Committee Chair, Ms Jo Clay MLA on (02) 6205 0283

Committee Secretary, Martin Riordan on (02) 6205 0199 or at LACommitteePTCS@parliament.act.gov.au