Page 3315 - Week 11 - Thursday, 11 November 2021
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Environment—electric vehicles
Debate resumed.
MR RATTENBURY: Truck makers such as Daimler, MAN, Renault, Scania and Volvo have indicated that they see an all-electric future.
The ACT government wants to ensure that we are at the front of this movement to change the way our vehicles operate. The ACT government has committed to a broad range of actions to support a future of zero emission vehicles, including supporting new and innovative businesses in the ZEV sector to maximise job creation and economic development in the territory, working with local and state governments to facilitate the installation of charging stations on major routes to and from Canberra; amending road rules and the Parking and Vehicle Access General Code to promote ZEV uptake, ensuring all newly leased ACT government fleet passenger vehicles are ZEVs in 2020-21, where fit for purpose, and trialling financial incentives to encourage the uptake of ZEVs and electric bikes.
I would like to take this opportunity to outline the progress we have made to achieve a zero emissions transport system. In 2018 the government released its Transition to Zero Emissions Vehicles Action Plan. Since then we have made great progress in transitioning our government passenger vehicle fleet to zero emission vehicles. We now have one of the largest passenger zero emission vehicle fleets in Australia, with 169 vehicles, which is 29 per cent of our total fleet of 597 vehicles. We are following through on our commitment that all new fit-for-purpose vehicle leases are zero emissions.
To power these cars, we have installed 120 charging stations at ACT government sites, and we have worked with industry and government partners to open Australia’s first publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling station in Fyshwick. This station will support 20 hydrogen powered vehicles in the government fleet—a unique commitment to trial this exciting new technology.
We are also looking at how to shift to zero emissions heavy vehicles, including emergency vehicles and waste collection trucks. The ACT Emergency Services Agency demonstrated leadership in working with German company Rosenbauer to develop Australia’s first electric fire truck. As part of the 2021-22 budget, the ACT government is investing $12.8 million over four years for the Emergency Services Agency’s vehicle replacement program, which will include the addition of nine zero emissions vehicles to the emergency services fleet.
We are also putting in place incentives to support the broader uptake of zero emission vehicles in the community. The ACT has among the most generous incentives for zero emission vehicles in Australia. We have introduced two years free registration for new and used vehicles, as well as continuing the stamp duty exemption for new zero emissions vehicles. We will soon introduce zero-interest $15,000 loans for zero emissions vehicles and charging equipment purchases, through phase 2 of the Sustainable Household Scheme.
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