• Government refuses to take any action to grow EV use in state
• Labor policy provides $2.5 million to establish network
• Liberals stuck in past while Labor looking at opportunities for growth
The Liberals’ lack of leadership is again on show, after the Government refused to match money raised by the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association to establish fast-charging stations around Tasmania.
Shadow Infrastructure Minister Shane Broad said the Government was burying its head in the sand by refusing to work with AEVA, which has raised $500,000 to establish a network of charging stations, which it asked the Government to match.
Instead, the Government knocked back the request and told AEVA it was “ahead of its time”*.
“It is the Liberals who are stuck in the past when it comes to electric vehicles,” Dr Broad said.
“Labor has been working with AEVA and other parties to develop our policies to open up Tasmania to electric vehicles.
“Labor’s policy will provide $2.5 million to take a leadership role in developing a network of electric vehicle charging stations for Tasmania.
“A majority Labor Government will work with AEVA, TasNetworks and Hydro to establish a reliable and practical electric vehicle charging network to take Tasmania back to the top of the pile when it comes to renewables.
“A carefully planned network of fast charging stations will extend the range of electric vehicles. This is crucial if we are to market Tasmania as an electric vehicle friendly place to visit.
“Labor will provide $1.5 million to pilot the roll-out of electric vehicles across the Government vehicle fleet. We would also work with local government and the University of Tasmania to achieve economies of scale in fleet purchasing.”
* http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/4929002/electric-vehicle-station-scheme/?cs=5312
Read more: http://taslabor.com/building-tasmanias-economy-future/
Shane Broad MP Shadow Minister for Infrastructure
