If you are planning to buy a new car in the next year you might be in for a shock when the Albanese Government’s proposed carbon tax on cars kicks in on 1 January 2025.
The Government’s plan for new fuel efficiency standards will impose penalties on popular new petrol, diesel, and hybrid models in an attempt to subsidise the cost of electric vehicles.
Buying a new SUV, 4WD, or ute will be punished under Labor’s plan, with the automotive industry warning that by 2029, the cost of Australia’s favourite family cars could increase by up to $25,000.
The Government claims that the new vehicle efficiency standard will result in lower running costs for new cars – but that’s only if you can afford to buy a new one! Slapping a new tax of thousands of dollars on to the purchase price of the most popular family vehicles will only make life harder for most Australians.
Cleaner and more efficient motor vehicles are an important way to reduce pollution, but the Government’s proposal totally fails to deliver any balance between price, consumer choice, and emissions. For many Australians, this tax hike will force them to either keep driving their current car or choose a second hand car, and simply result in keeping older and less efficient vehicles on the road.
In September 2023 I wrote to Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water, to express both my and the community’s concerns about the proposed clearing of vital koala habitat at the Kin Kin Quarry site.
Last month I received a response from the Branch Head of the Environment Assessments Queensland Branch, whom the Minister had delegated to respond on her behalf. The response advised that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) has a framework for protecting matters of national significance and any proposed action that will, or is likely to have, significant impact on a protected matter must be referred for consideration.
If the Minister or one of her delegates agrees that the Kin Kin Quarry clearing is likely to have a significant impact, it will be determined to be a ‘controlled action’ and must undergo rigorous assessment before a decision is made whether to approve it. This assessment process also includes further opportunities for public comment.
At this stage, no decision has been made on whether the Kin Kin Quarry application is a ‘controlled action,’ and the project status is still listed as Awaiting Information. My understanding is that the Minister is awaiting further details from the quarry operator before this decision is made.
Interested parties can keep track of the progress of this proposal via the EPBC Act Public Portal, epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/all-notices/.
In other matters, Parliament has commenced for 2024 and legislation under consideration in February includes significant changes to Industrial Relations laws and the already legislated stage 3 tax cuts, amendments to the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, Modern Slavery, and Paid Parental Leave.
In the Parliament I also congratulated Wide Bay’s Australia Day Awards recipients. Mr Paul Marden of Pomona, Dr Brian Hoepper of Peregian Beach, Dr Christine McConnell of Noosaville, Mr Morgan Parker of Sunshine Beach, Ms Julia Davison of Noosa Heads, Ms Bronwyn Edinger of Tewantin, Mrs Bernadette O’Neill of Gympie, and Mrs Carmel Murdoch of Maryborough were all recognised for their remarkable achievements and extraordinary contributions to the community.
