❓ The Minister for Climate Action outlines the WA government's $60 million Clean Energy Car Fund, including rebates for EVs and charging infrastructure investments, aiming to reduce emissions and promote EV adoption.
AnsweredQoN 261Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CLEAN
ENERGY CAR FUND
261. Mr G. BAKER to the Minister for Climate Action:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's commitment
to taking serious action on climate change and moving our state towards a low-carbon
future.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the $60 million clean energy car fund that
will be part of the state budget will help drive the uptake of electric
vehicles in Western Australia?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this will help WA meet its target of net zero
emissions?
ENERGY CAR FUND
261. Mr G. BAKER to the Minister for Climate Action:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's commitment
to taking serious action on climate change and moving our state towards a low-carbon
future.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the $60 million clean energy car fund that
will be part of the state budget will help drive the uptake of electric
vehicles in Western Australia?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this will help WA meet its target of net zero
emissions?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for South Perth for that good question and
acknowledge the member's commitment to decarbonisation and reducing
greenhouse gases. I believe he is the proud driver of a Tesla car, so well
done!
(1)–(2) What we have announced today is an incentive
package so that more Western Australians can drive electric vehicles; they will be cheaper. Members can recall
the significant funding commitment of this government last year to develop Australia's longest
EV charging network. That commitment was made recognising that one of
the main barriers to EV uptake in Western Australia is something called range
anxiety. Members will be pleased to note
that as of today people can purchase an electric vehicle at a cheaper price ,
given the rebate announcement, and they can charge their vehicle—this
may interest members opposite—and it will take them a distance of 400
kilometres or more. A person can purchase that car and they can start in Mt Claremont
and go into the regions for a distance of well over 400 kilometres without
having to charge. That is a significant —
A member
interjected.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : There is a charging network already. The member
will be glad to know that they can go further than Esperance; they can
keep on going because our charging network means that we can reach the state
border with South Australia, at Eucla. People can therefore complete that trip
around Australia by EV.
The
government has allocated $60 million in the budget to the clean energy car fund
to accelerate the use of zero and low–emission vehicles, which
includes $36.5 million to provide 10 000 rebates worth $3 500 for people who
want to buy a new electric vehicle or
hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. This, of course, will assist householders to save
and will also impress on the
community the value of buying EVs, which will lead to a larger second-hand car
market, enabling other people to purchase them down the track. Taking
combustion engine vehicles off the road and replacing them with EVs will reduce
about 7 000 tonnes of carbon emissions per annum into the Western Australian
atmosphere.
We
are also investing in the charging infrastructure, as I said earlier. We will
provide $10 million to support not-for-profits and small businesses to
install charging infrastructure, $5 million to help local governments install charging
infrastructure and $4 million so that the Public Transport Authority can
install a range of charging infrastructure
at four train stations as a trial project that will provide 20 car bays with
commuter charging access. As I said,
we will complete the link to the South Australian border so that people can
drive right around Western Australia from Eucla to Kununurra and beyond,
charging their electric vehicle as they go. This government is serious about
climate change and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. I can also talk to
members about the $750 million—three-quarters of a billion dollars—invested
in the climate action fund that provides investment for a suite of initiatives.
Climate change is real, regardless of what our friends Barnaby Joyce and Matt
Canavan might want to say. Action is required right now to change the way our
economy and society operates. We are serious about this, even if others are
not.
acknowledge the member's commitment to decarbonisation and reducing
greenhouse gases. I believe he is the proud driver of a Tesla car, so well
done!
(1)–(2) What we have announced today is an incentive
package so that more Western Australians can drive electric vehicles; they will be cheaper. Members can recall
the significant funding commitment of this government last year to develop Australia's longest
EV charging network. That commitment was made recognising that one of
the main barriers to EV uptake in Western Australia is something called range
anxiety. Members will be pleased to note
that as of today people can purchase an electric vehicle at a cheaper price ,
given the rebate announcement, and they can charge their vehicle—this
may interest members opposite—and it will take them a distance of 400
kilometres or more. A person can purchase that car and they can start in Mt Claremont
and go into the regions for a distance of well over 400 kilometres without
having to charge. That is a significant —
A member
interjected.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : There is a charging network already. The member
will be glad to know that they can go further than Esperance; they can
keep on going because our charging network means that we can reach the state
border with South Australia, at Eucla. People can therefore complete that trip
around Australia by EV.
The
government has allocated $60 million in the budget to the clean energy car fund
to accelerate the use of zero and low–emission vehicles, which
includes $36.5 million to provide 10 000 rebates worth $3 500 for people who
want to buy a new electric vehicle or
hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. This, of course, will assist householders to save
and will also impress on the
community the value of buying EVs, which will lead to a larger second-hand car
market, enabling other people to purchase them down the track. Taking
combustion engine vehicles off the road and replacing them with EVs will reduce
about 7 000 tonnes of carbon emissions per annum into the Western Australian
atmosphere.
We
are also investing in the charging infrastructure, as I said earlier. We will
provide $10 million to support not-for-profits and small businesses to
install charging infrastructure, $5 million to help local governments install charging
infrastructure and $4 million so that the Public Transport Authority can
install a range of charging infrastructure
at four train stations as a trial project that will provide 20 car bays with
commuter charging access. As I said,
we will complete the link to the South Australian border so that people can
drive right around Western Australia from Eucla to Kununurra and beyond,
charging their electric vehicle as they go. This government is serious about
climate change and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. I can also talk to
members about the $750 million—three-quarters of a billion dollars—invested
in the climate action fund that provides investment for a suite of initiatives.
Climate change is real, regardless of what our friends Barnaby Joyce and Matt
Canavan might want to say. Action is required right now to change the way our
economy and society operates. We are serious about this, even if others are
not.
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