Leading Australian employer organisations assert that electric vehicles (EVs) will have minimal impact on achieving the 2030 emissions reduction goals set by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. This conclusion is attributed to high costs and inadequate charging infrastructure. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australia Industry Group expressed concerns about the sluggish adoption of EVs, despite Albanese’s optimistic view of them aiding in building a better future.
Andrew McKellar, CEO of ACCI, cautioned that the government’s targets seem unattainable, pointing to the slow progress in establishing EV charging stations and the lack of consumer incentives. He noted that while many consumers are interested in EVs, the prohibitive costs and lack of infrastructure deter them, making the government’s goals seem distant.
Innes Willox, CEO of the Ai Group, echoed these sentiments in his statement to The Australian, doubting the significant impact of EV adoption on the 2030 emissions objectives. He suggested that meaningful contributions from clean, light vehicles might be more feasible for the 2035 goals.
Further concerns were raised following a report by The Australian, which indicated that Chris Bowen’s EV strategy might fail, with projections showing less than a third of new car sales being battery-operated by 2030. This figure falls significantly short of the 89% forecasted in Labor’s pre-election model.
Despite these challenges, Prime Minister Albanese reaffirmed his commitment to EVs in a speech, countering former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s earlier criticism of EVs.
Addressing international climate efforts, Chris Bowen urged a greater role for countries like China in reducing emissions and funding climate initiatives. He argued for revisiting the 1992 global climate treaty’s allowances for developing countries, considering the changed global economic landscape.
With EV adoption lagging behind Labor’s targets, experts pointed out the government’s insufficient investment in charging infrastructure. Stuart Norman, former CEO of Parking Australia, expressed no surprise at the government’s sales projections for EVs and called for an increase in low-speed street charging ports.
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