iDriveWA Electric Vehicle Conference Keynote Address

I would like to acknowledge that I am speaking on the land of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation.

I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

I also acknowledge:

Rob Wilson, the WA Head of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Michelle Andrews, Director General of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation

And all those who have helped make this event possible.

A conference that embraces one of the true loves of Western Australians. Our love for cars.

There are more than 2.3 million registered motor vehicles in WA. But electric vehicles make up 1 per cent of new car sales in Australia. Compare that to 15% in the United Kingdom and over 70% in Norway.

So we need to change our thinking, and slowly that is happening. Given electric cars can end the weekend, it is good you are holding this conference on a Thursday. And I come to you as a proud electric car and technology enthusiast. I purchased my Tesla on my phone. The Prime Minister cancelled a French submarine contract on his. Technology really can do anything.

And just as Nicola Tesla demonstrated the power of alternating current at the Colombian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893. We now see a similar revolution happening in Glasgow. But the shift at Glasgow is in what technology we finance.

The COP 26 priorities state very clearly;

“every company, every financial firm, every bank, insurer and investor will need to change.”

And this will also drive major change for legislators and regulators. Thankfully we now have a global majority accepting the science and urgency of climate change. Finance is rushing towards climate action and mitigation. Political will is finally emerging.

But the technology in many cases is already with us. Electric transport is a classic example. It was 30 years ago that we took diesel trains off the tracks here in Perth. The electrification of our railway was environmentally and economically a great success. It even made our suburbs quieter. It was genuinely win-win. And Western Australia has many more wins on our horizon.

That’s why I’m so pleased to have the opportunity to address the iDrive WA Electric vehicle conference. Just like we electrified our rail network. Just as Australians have adopted solar over the last 20 years.

Now electric vehicles allow Australians to take another step in the fight against climate change. This is a journey my wife Jess and I have recently gone on, having put the 6.6 kw solar on our roof. Having changed every lightbulb in our 1930s Californian bungalow to LED. The next step was our car.

A year ago there were no electric cars on the government fleet list. So I did my own research, took the double pram that my kids Leo and Ruby rely upon down to Tesla in Osborne Park. And much like Cinderella – if the pram would fit in the boot, then I had found my new car. And ever since I have gone from an SUV driving daggy dad to a bit of an EV revhead. As the Federal Member for Perth and Shadow Assistant Minister for WA I believe to understand our future we need to also know our history. Perth’s proud history of car manufacturing and innovation dates back to 1926 when General Motors Holden opened its first assembly plant in WA at Mosman Park. By 1927 one in every four Australia families owned a car.

The Mosman Park plant operated for almost 50 yearsIt built planes and boats for Australia’s World War II effort. It was just down the road from the Cottesloe home of Prime Minister John Curtin. The plant closed for good in 1972 and is now the home of Iona Primary School. Since then, our car and energy innovation has taken different turn.

Western Australians have done a lot to support renewable energy. In 2020, the amount of wind and solar generation in Western Australia doubled. Doubled. In one year. Anyone who tells you that we can’t make big change quickly is wrong.

In the metropolitan energy grid, rooftop solar is the largest generator, contributing 1.59 GW of energy. Almost as much as the total coal contribution of 1.65GW. Our grid is on track to be able to meet up to 100 per cent of demand from renewable energy. The West’s unique geography means we can take advantage of the opportunities of renewable energy powered transport. And across our state you see these opportunities being captured.

The RAC electric Highway. The first in Australia. Charging thousands of cars from Perth to Augusta. The work the Motor Trade Association of WA is doing training the digital mechanics of the future. And WA’s mining industry taking huge steps to electrify: A key player in our state’s attempts to address climate change.Mining contributes almost half of WA’s gross product. Research suggests that 61 per cent of the next generation of mines will be completely electric. Electric mines will help decarbonise the industry.

So the private sector is taking action. And successive WA Governments have taken small steps to support the development of EVs in WA. But it was not until 2020 that WA had its first EV strategy. I commend minister for Climate Action, Amber-Jade Sanderson, for her leadership in this space. This strategy is a key element of our State’s climate policy. At its heart is the world’s largest electric vehicle charging infrastructure networks. Right here in Western Australia.

Strategy established a $21 million fund for EVs. State Government will increase its own fleet of EVs, with a target of 25 per cent. Invest $800,000 to install charging stations in government buildings. Investing up to $20 million to install charging stations at 45 locations by January 2024. And create the standards and guidelines to ensure industry has the certainty it needs.

Then we look federally. Last week the Federal Government released Australia’s Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan. It was long awaited but short on detail. Titled: The plan to Deliver Net Zero – the Australian Way. It is the Government’s plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.The Federal Government finally supporting a net zero commitment is a good start. But like many who follow climate policy closely, I am disappointed. This plan has no new investments, no public economic modelling and no guarantee of reaching net zero. The plan sets targets of: Hydrogen under $2 a killogramSolar power under $15 per Megawatt hour.Low emissions steel production of under $700 per tonne and aluminium under $2,200 per tonne. Carbon capture and storage of under $20 per tonne of CO2.But again, no binding mechanism. This is a step in the right direction.

But we need to be honest about the conduct of our political leaders in recent years. The Prime Minister said a lot of bizarre things in the lead up to the last election.I remember when he claimed that Labor’s policy to rapidly increase the uptake of EVs would “end the weekend.” The Liberal Party then targeted Facebook ads to ute owners to scare them. The Liberal-National Government has members who still question the science of climate change. Prime Minister’s address to COP26 was underwhelming.

His fellow conservative Boris Johnston delivered emotion. Commitment. Urgency. That’s what I believe Australians want to see too. The Australian public want to see genuine long-term commitment.  Australian Labor committed to net zero in 2015.More than 130 countries, every state and territory, and most of major businesses have since joined us. 

So you know I am serious when I say Labor will act on climate change and we will act on vehicle affordability.  Research shows that 2 in 3 Australian’s would consider buying an EV, with cost the major barrier. You know a standard EV is about 70% cheaper to run than its petrol equivalent. 90% cheaper if it is powered from rooftop solar. Petrol carmakers sadly see Australia as a dumping ground. There are over 130 EV models available in the UK.bIn Australia it is less than 31. What’s different between the UK and Australia? Policy settings. A Federal Labor Government will introduce an Electric Car Discount. A tax cut for working families. Labor will exempt EVs below the luxury car tax threshold form the 5 per cent import tariff. Making cars around $2,000 cheaper than they are today.

And we will exempt EVs from the 47 per cent Fringe Benefits Tax on cars provided through work for private use. This will make new cars more affordable and dramatically grow the second hand market too. This will work in partnership with our commitment to legislate for net zero. A national framework reflected in national law. nIt’s the long-term destination to guide decisions by governments, businesses and the community for the next three decades. This will also repair our international reputation and prepare our economy for the future. But no one policy will get us there. That’s why Labor will also invest in next generation skills. With $100 million to help fund 10,000 new energy apprenticeships. To ensure Australia has the skills it needs to make the most out of renewable energy.

A Federal Labor Government will invest in community infrastructure too. Building a network of 400 community batteries across Australia. Allowing 100,000 Australian households to store their renewable energy. And we will fix the bottlenecks in our electricity network. Creating a $20 billion fund to upgrade Australia’s electricity grid. This will allow us to plug more renewables into our grid – wind, solar, pumped hydro. Your investment in electric cars will pay off.

The CSIRO projects that by as early as 2030, EVs will make up 100 per cent of all new small vehicles sold. Even the most conservative estimates expect 5 million EVs across Australia in the next 30 years. Cost parity will be reached for small EVs between 2025 and 2030.Then we move on to transport vehicles:Last month Transperth’s first electric bus arrived.In will be trialled on the Joondalup CAT bus route.The first-time electric buses have operated on the Transperth network.

So there is an exciting future and an exciting present for electric transport. But to make sure we get it right we need you to engage in the policy debate. Share your success. Engage with sceptical politicians. State, federal and even local government. Tell us what will help grow this industry. Convince us one by one to make the shift in our own lives and our departments. And in doing so – you will help keep Australia’s economy at the head of the pack.

Thank you.