Coalition's EV Subsidy Cuts Hit Working Australians

Statement from National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA) CEO Rohan Martin: "The Coalition's announcement that it would wind back electric vehicle (EV) subsidies will hurt everyday ordinary working Australians—at a time when the cost-of-living crisis, including escalating transport costs, is hitting hard. "NALSPA is disappointed at the Coalition's reversal on the commitment from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Monday of this week to maintain the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for EVs. "Winding back the EV FBT exemption would disproportionately affect average working Australians in the outer suburbs, such as Werribee in south-west Melbourne, Baulkham Hills in north-west Sydney and Springfield south-west of Brisbane, where the policy has seen the most significant uptake. "And most surprisingly such a winding back doesn't align with the Coalition's own election pledges—like tax relief through an offset, scrapping the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard penalties to lower upfront car costs, and halving the fuel excise—because the EV FBT exemption successfully delivers on all those fronts. "To the contrary, winding back the EV FBT exemption would increase the cost to own and operate a car for the many working Australians seeking to save money and reduce their carbon footprint through owning an electric vehicle. "We therefore call on the Coalition to reverse their proposal to wind back these subsidies so that working Australians and their families can have certainty as they seek to reduce their cost of living."