Thread: Improving transport taxes for the future

It’s certainly something that needs to be carefully considered.

Opinion: We are at risk of killing the golden goose of our transport system

Our transport system needs fixing, but a tax on electric vehicles isn't the solution - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

What a BS article from very left of centre.
1 EVs in Australia are coal driven and will be for many years. Ther eis no environmental benefit.
2 Sydney already has enormous congestion taxes with over $100 a week to drive into the city.
3 congestion taxes are very inequitable as they drive poorer people off the road. You only have to look at a the Harbour Bridge on any given day to see the majority of cars have a single occupant.
4Perhaps the decline in fuel tax has been because of more efficient cars and I would guess the fleet average for Australia is only a fraction of what it was.
The road pricing idea has the major stumbling block of the existing taxes in Sydney and Melbourne which together would be about 40% of Australian road travel.
So what is the answer?
A road mileage charge on electric vehicles which approximates the excise paid by the average car for average kms per year. NZ already has a system for diesels.
Regards PhilipA

But we want to encourage the shift to EVs to reduce emissions, so putting a road charge on them would be counter productive.
Falling fuel tax is a good thing because it means more efficient engines are being used.
Maybe government might have to get over the idea that motorists are an easy target to slug with taxes.
Personally, I would rather see the GST raised to 15% and all exemptions abolished, as NZ and some other countries have done, as this treats everyone equally and rewards those who are frugal.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

What a BS article from very left of centre.
1 EVs in Australia are coal driven and will be for many years. Ther eis no environmental benefit.
2 Sydney already has enormous congestion taxes with over $100 a week to drive into the city.
3 congestion taxes are very inequitable as they drive poorer people off the road. You only have to look at a the Harbour Bridge on any given day to see the majority of cars have a single occupant.
4Perhaps the decline in fuel tax has been because of more efficient cars and I would guess the fleet average for Australia is only a fraction of what it was.
The road pricing idea has the major stumbling block of the existing taxes in Sydney and Melbourne which together would be about 40% of Australian road travel.
So what is the answer?
A road mileage charge on electric vehicles which approximates the excise paid by the average car for average kms per year. NZ already has a system for diesels.
Regards PhilipA

Sydney does not have "congestion taxes". It has toll roads, bridges, and tunnels. If you don't use them you don't have to pay. The only toll I pay when in Sydney is the Harbour Bridge. It being more convenient to use rather than going all the way around through Gladesville. I don't pay tolls in Brisbane either. I take the position that roads etc are built from the common purse for the free use of all citizens. Our caring governments then sold "tolling rights" to private sector companies.

CBD peak hour congestion can be solved by a stroke of the legislative pen and a display of political will. Ban private vehicles from the central traffic areas. Problem solvered, Boss.

Sydney does not have "congestion taxes". It has toll roads, bridges, and tunnels.

Ha Ha
Ever tried to take the non tolled roads especially in peak hour?
The actions that the Government took to restrict alternate routes to support the toll roads makes them a de facto congestion tax.
You know , on a Sunday you can maybe take alternate roads if you have plenty of time, but don't try it on Saturday morning.
They just have another name.
But I do agree that congestion taxes would maybe help, as would staggering start and finish times. When I worked in the CBD , I started at 8AM and finished at 4PM, which meant I could at least avoid the worst in the Afternoon , but probably not any more.
Regards PhilipA

Originally Posted by PhilipA

... ... When I worked in the CBD , I started at 8AM and finished at 4PM, which meant I could at least avoid the worst in the Afternoon , but probably not any more.
Regards PhilipA

I preferred your post before you edited your typo.

I assumed that finishing at $PM meant that you stopped work as soon as you got paid.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

What a BS article from very left of centre.
1 EVs in Australia are coal driven and will be for many years. Ther eis no environmental benefit.
2 Sydney already has enormous congestion taxes with over $100 a week to drive into the city.
3 congestion taxes are very inequitable as they drive poorer people off the road. You only have to look at a the Harbour Bridge on any given day to see the majority of cars have a single occupant.
4Perhaps the decline in fuel tax has been because of more efficient cars and I would guess the fleet average for Australia is only a fraction of what it was.
The road pricing idea has the major stumbling block of the existing taxes in Sydney and Melbourne which together would be about 40% of Australian road travel.
So what is the answer?
A road mileage charge on electric vehicles which approximates the excise paid by the average car for average kms per year. NZ already has a system for diesels.
Regards PhilipA

There is a definite and proven environmental benefit to EV's even running them off coal fired power stations. A large power station is far more efficient and converts more of the fossil fuel to power, so emissions are lower from a 'coal fired' EV than any modern petrol or diesel engine- between 20 and 40% depending on which reports you look at, but all of them - independent or not, come to the same conclusion. It also reduces the build up of the emissions in the city areas where pollution is the worst - and most people just don't seem to want to admit that these higher concentrations of pollution really do kill more people than in areas of lower pollution. Is it perfect? - no, not by a long stretch, but it is a start and we do need to start somewhere.

There's a lot more to be done before the uptake of EV's is of any real significance though IMO - they are just too bloody expensive at the moment in every way, shape and form, so taxing them per KM is the least of their problems. I do think they do need to pay their way though, but not sure how and how much - this is not a simple fix by any means.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

But we want to encourage the shift to EVs to reduce emissions, so putting a road charge on them would be counter productive.
Falling fuel tax is a good thing because it means more efficient engines are being used.
Maybe government might have to get over the idea that motorists are an easy target to slug with taxes.
Personally, I would rather see the GST raised to 15% and all exemptions abolished, as NZ and some other countries have done, as this treats everyone equally and rewards those who are frugal.

Correct,but unfortunately its all about job security for politicians.....

And then who would they tax instead of motorists?

In fact its light commercial vehicles that get slugged more than private motorists,which is unfair to start with.Tolls,rego,etc.
But i suppose most wouldn't pay the GST component of the fees or fuel.