Fresh from a record vote in the State election, the Greens have kicked off their federal election campaign in SA announcing a $6.1b plan to boost the uptake of electric vehicles and reestablish auto manufacturing in Australia, saying that in balance of power the party will push for a South Australian-focused package to support an electric car industry in the State.

The Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, is in Adelaide today to launch the campaign for South Australia lead Senate Candidate, Barbara Pocock. 

As the US government prepares to wind back fossil fuel subsidies in advance of the upcoming G7 meeting, the Morrison Government has today committed to introduce new legislation in June to facilitate over $2 billion of subsidies to the owners of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries, Ampol and Viva Energy. 

Yet, while dubbed the Fuel Security Bill 2021, the Morrison Government has completely left Australia at the back of the pack in the transition to electric transport, refusing to use either regulation or incentives to fast track the roll-out of electric vehicles. 

Bill Shorten has today confirmed that Labor’s 50% by 2030 electric vehicle target isn’t an election promise, and that it “doesn’t mean that [it] will happen.”

“The Greens are extremely disappointed that Bill Shorten and Labor have caved in to the scare campaign from the climate deniers on the hard right on their electric vehicle policy,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport spokesperson.

Labor’s backflip on forcing car dealers rather than manufacturers to reduce vehicle emissions shows their policy was written on the run, say the Greens.

“Putting the onus on car dealers rather than manufacturers was clearly unworkable and just demonstrates that Labor has cooked up this dog’s breakfast of a policy on the run,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport spokesperson.