The Australian High Court has made a ruling against the electric vehicle (EV) road user charge (RUC) law in Victoria. This law would have required EV owners to pay a fee based on the number of kilometers they traveled each year. However, the court deemed this charge unconstitutional and stated that only the federal government has the authority to impose such a tax on citizens.
The ruling has sparked discussions about whether other states in Australia will be able to introduce levies on EVs. New South Wales and Western Australia had previously announced similar plans, but their ability to implement them may now be in question.
The decision by the High Court has been welcomed by electric car owners. The Electric Vehicle Council CEO, Behyad Jafari, called it a win for Australian motorists, the environment, and the national interest. Jafari emphasized that while road user charges are not inherently wrong, they should not discourage the uptake of electric vehicles. He called for a national road user charge scheme and expressed the council’s willingness to work with the federal government on road funding reform.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the newly-elected National government has also plans to impose RUCs on EV owners by April next year. The leader, Christopher Luxon, believes it is unsustainable for EV owners to forgo the cost of using the country’s roads. Additionally, the government intends to scrap the Clean Car Discount scheme by the end of December 2023.
This ruling by the Australian High Court is seen as a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding electric vehicle taxation and road user charges. It highlights the need for a cohesive and nationally coordinated approach to address these issues.
