There are more moving parts to vehicle electrfication than simply taxing them to maintain/build transport infrastructure.
From WW2 to 2018 we had a highly subsidised auto manufacturing industry. Due to the dire shortage of cars, trucks and spare parts during and immediately after WW2, its was deemed a National Security issue to have auto manufacturing in Aus.
The supply of petroleum is also deemed a National Security isssue too and I suspect that is why we still have some local refineries. With the current transition to EVs including trucks, perhaps petroleum security is becomming less of an issue . Should we be capable of reducing our petroleum imports to half, this would save Aus over $20 Billion a year in imports thereby lifting our trade surplus (currently about $80 Billion) by that amount.
The global move to low carbon economies (leave the US out of that at present) will likely mean carbon taxes levied on our exports which is motivating our WA IO exportes to think seriously about going green. No doubt our farmers will be compelled to do ditto.
Which gets us back to what is a fair levy on motorists and transport operators in order to replave petroleum excise tax? IMO compulsory annual RWC checks (some states have that now) where kms travelled over the year can be traced & taxed and paid monthly like toll road levies with a GVM multiplier.
