❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Innovation and ICT regarding gaps in the government's proposed electric vehicle charging network, particularly concerning the Great Northern Highway and connectivity with South Australia. The Minister defends the strategy, highlighting its scope and industry support.
AnsweredQoN 979Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRIC VEHICLES —
CHARGING POINTS
979. Ms
L. METTAM to the Minister for Innovation and ICT:
Can
the minister explain why there are gaping holes in the government's
proposed electric vehicle network, including 1 600 kilometres of the
Great Northern Highway, in addition to the fact that the EV network will not
even link up with South Australia?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
CHARGING POINTS
979. Ms
L. METTAM to the Minister for Innovation and ICT:
Can
the minister explain why there are gaping holes in the government's
proposed electric vehicle network, including 1 600 kilometres of the
Great Northern Highway, in addition to the fact that the EV network will not
even link up with South Australia?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
AnswerView source ↗
I want to congratulate the new
Deputy Leader of the Opposition for asking the dorothy dixer about EVs that I was
going to get asked a bit later on.
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I call you for the second time.
Mr D.J. KELLY : I thank the
member for Vasse very much for asking me a question about our new electric
vehicle strategy. We are very proud of the strategy that we announced earlier
this week. Electric vehicles have been around for a while. I remember that in
the eight years of the former government, members opposite did nothing to
promote this technology. The member probably does not know that—she probably
was not paying attention—but during that eight and a half years, her
government did nothing. We have consulted with industry on how best to
kickstart EVs in WA. The rate of EV take-up in Western Australia is very low.
There are fewer than 1 600 EVs on the road in Western Australia, which is less
than one per cent. What can government best do to kickstart this industry? We
have announced a $21 million strategy that includes the longest EV charging
station network in Australia. People will be
able to go from Esperance all the way to Kununurra. It will be the longest
network in Australia and, arguably , one of the longest in the world. The
member for Vasse is not happy with that. Sure, it will not go everywhere in Western
Australia—that is for sure. But it will build the spine, the backbone,
of the network, so people will have confidence that they can leave major towns
with their electric vehicles and go throughout most parts of the state. Sure,
there are parts of the state that they will not be able to go to, but they will
be able to drive from Esperance to Kununurra, and they will be able to go to
Kalgoorlie.
The response from industry has been
overwhelmingly positive.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my left!
Mr D.J. KELLY : It sees this
as a major step forward. We know that once we do this, other players will come
into the market and build out the network. We are the first state government to
put significant money into an electric vehicle policy. It will arguably be one
of the largest networks in the world and it has overwhelming endorsement from
industry, yet the opposition is complaining about it. It is absolutely
astonishing.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition for asking the dorothy dixer about EVs that I was
going to get asked a bit later on.
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I call you for the second time.
Mr D.J. KELLY : I thank the
member for Vasse very much for asking me a question about our new electric
vehicle strategy. We are very proud of the strategy that we announced earlier
this week. Electric vehicles have been around for a while. I remember that in
the eight years of the former government, members opposite did nothing to
promote this technology. The member probably does not know that—she probably
was not paying attention—but during that eight and a half years, her
government did nothing. We have consulted with industry on how best to
kickstart EVs in WA. The rate of EV take-up in Western Australia is very low.
There are fewer than 1 600 EVs on the road in Western Australia, which is less
than one per cent. What can government best do to kickstart this industry? We
have announced a $21 million strategy that includes the longest EV charging
station network in Australia. People will be
able to go from Esperance all the way to Kununurra. It will be the longest
network in Australia and, arguably , one of the longest in the world. The
member for Vasse is not happy with that. Sure, it will not go everywhere in Western
Australia—that is for sure. But it will build the spine, the backbone,
of the network, so people will have confidence that they can leave major towns
with their electric vehicles and go throughout most parts of the state. Sure,
there are parts of the state that they will not be able to go to, but they will
be able to drive from Esperance to Kununurra, and they will be able to go to
Kalgoorlie.
The response from industry has been
overwhelmingly positive.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my left!
Mr D.J. KELLY : It sees this
as a major step forward. We know that once we do this, other players will come
into the market and build out the network. We are the first state government to
put significant money into an electric vehicle policy. It will arguably be one
of the largest networks in the world and it has overwhelming endorsement from
industry, yet the opposition is complaining about it. It is absolutely
astonishing.
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