Bit of an ouch for Victoria, likely going to prevent other states from doing a similar thing (NSW was about to implement one as well) So this would now mean a EV road user tax will need to be done by the Fed
Bit of an ouch for Victoria, likely going to prevent other states from doing a similar thing (NSW was about to implement one as well) So this would now mean a EV road user tax will need to be done by the Fed
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The High Court has thrown out a controversial Victorian tax on electric cars which applies to zero and low-emission vehicles.
The state government charge has been applied at a rate of about two cents per kilometre and was designed to match the contribution drivers of fuel-powered vehicles already make to road maintenance through a Commonwealth fuel excise.
It means drivers of plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles must pay for the distance they travel on public roads, both in and outside Victoria.
But electric car owners Christopher Vanderstock and Kathleen Davies mounted a High Court challenge, arguing the tax was illegal because it was an excise, which only the Commonwealth could impose.
But, today, the High Court found the tax was an excise and therefore could not be imposed by the state.
There is much at stake as a result of the judgement, not least because of the rising numbers of electric vehicles on the roads, which in turn will lead to falling revenue for states and territories from fuel excise.
The original article contains 195 words, the summary contains 165 words. Saved 15%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!