Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek says “it’s no secret” that declining numbers of petrol and diesel vehicles are eroding fuel excise revenue, leaving less money to build and maintain Australia’s roads.
Her comments come as industry and government leaders meet to discuss a possible road user charge for electric vehicle (EV) drivers ahead of the Albanese government’s economic reform roundtable next week.
While stressing that any charge on EVs wouldn’t be “happening tomorrow,” Ms Plibersek said it was important to consider long-term measures to secure road funding.
“I do think it’s sensible to look long-term for the states and territories at what they do to make sure that there’s enough money to build the roads that people want to drive on and to make sure they’re maintained as well,” she told Sunrise.
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce was speaking alongside Ms Plibersek and said: “I have a sense there’s a lot of EVs in Tanya’s electorate, so she doesn’t want to jump right in there, got to be careful about that.”
And on whether EV drivers should pay their share: “They definitely should, 100% they should,” he said.