Australian EV owners’ road tax deemed reasonable by Tanya Plibersek before crucial economic conference | Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers may soon face a road tax as the Australian government considers ways to ensure sufficient funding for road maintenance. Federal MP Tanya Plibersek has suggested that this could be a “sensible” measure given the growing number of people switching to electric cars. During a recent speech, Treasurer Jim Chalmers hinted at the possibility of levying road charges on EV users as a means to secure revenue for road infrastructure projects. Increased focus on this issue comes as the federal government prepares for a productivity roundtable, where industry leaders will discuss potential solutions. While the federal government initially seemed to leave the decision to individual states, Plibersek has recently supported the idea, arguing that as the number of EVs on the road grows, so does the need for alternative revenue streams to fund road construction and upkeep. Victoria had previously proposed a similar tax but faced opposition in the high court. In contrast, New Zealand has implemented road user charges for EVs and plans to extend these to petrol cars. Opposing voices, such as Coalition senator Jane Hume, have emphasized the necessity of maintaining roads, with EVs being part of the equation to ensure their drivers contribute to the costs akin to traditional vehicle owners.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/11/road-tax-australia-ev-users-electric-cars-vehicles