Bill Shorten needs to explain the impact his extreme vehicle emissions standard will have on Australian consumers.
Under Labor’s the emissions standard, similar to Europe’s current scheme, manufacturers and dealers will be forced to offer more compact vehicle models, less suited for Australians needs.
Australians prefer larger, more powerful cars because they meet their needs, not because we have more realistic fuel efficiency standards.
So far, we know Bill Shorten and Labor’s extreme green plan for an emissions standard of 105 g/km will:
- Increase the cost of a new car by almost $5,000 (Daily Telegraph, 9/04/2019).
- Cost state police forces tens of millions of dollars to comply (Herald Sun, 11/05/2019).
- Hit Australians on the lowest incomes in regional areas the worst (Courier Mail, 13/04/19).
- Give a free ride to millionaires and billionaires with the highest emitting cars (Daily Telegraph, 15/04/2019).
As seen in Europe, this will likely result in the removal of some of the most popular models from the Australian market in order to meet Labor’s strict emissions standards, or risk higher penalties.
The EU has adopted the most ambitious vehicle emissions standard in absolute terms with a 2020 mandatory emissions standard of 95 g/km for passenger cars and SUVs.
An analysis of the United Kingdom’s new vehicle market finds that the overwhelming majority of new vehicle purchases are sub-compact to compact cars, making it easier for automakers to meet emissions standards.
But Australians are choosing to purchase larger, more powerful vehicles and on average we drive 20% more – an average of 13,400 km per year in passenger vehicles, compared with just 10,500 km for UK drivers.
Bill Shorten and Labor’s car tax will see a host of popular vehicles and engines vanish from the Australian market.
Vehicles on Bill’s endangered list include:
- Toyota’s Kluger, Land Cruiser SUV and Ute, and Tarago models.
- Nissan’s Pathfinder and Patrol.
- Ford’s Everest and the Ranger’s ‘Raptor’ and ‘Wild track’ models.
- Mazda’s BT-50 and CX-9.
This would be a tax on the vehicle you choose to drive, the vehicle you want to tow your boat, caravan, camper trailer, the car you can fit your family in or the car you want to take off road.