The 2 EVs in my suburb are owned by doctors so to use taxpayers funds to subsidise them, IMO is simply middle class welfare.
IMO a transitional phase of: -fuel guzzler scarppage -allow the importation of late model/fuel efficient Japanese used cars
At present the Government only allows: -select used car imports (orphans) that have not been imported in full volume via an expensive compliance program called RAWS -25 year old cars -personal imports where a citizen has owned and operated the car overseas for an unbroken 1 months.
At present one can but small fuel efficient late model Japanese cars such as the Yaris, Corolla, Mazda 2 & 3 , the Nissan Micra etc with less than 100,000 kms for under $2000.
Unfortunately the Multinational manufacturers object to such a scheme like what NZ has because they want to maintain high used car pricing and as such reduce depreciation. on new car inflated pricing.
Working class Aussies have been exposed to our FTAs but when it comes to obtaining some compensation for downward pressure on wages caused by cheap imports, they cant benefit from out FTA with Japan because our Governments have repeatedly pandered to the Multinational Car Manufacturers' commercial interests rather than the interest of our own working class.
Since 2017 there has been no local car manufacturing to protect and the continuation of the current import restrictions only protects these Multinationals' bottom line rather than the financial interests of the millions of working class Aussies who cant afford to buy a new car let alone a new EV.
We should have a full FTA with Japan; not the current Claytons that benefits the Foreign Auto Makers, IMO.
The benefits: -lower CO2 -lower auto import bill (replace some new imports with much cheaper late model used models) -lower petroleum import bill -lower transport costs for the average Aussie worker who cant afford to buy a new car.
