Act Party snubs standard
The Act Party says it will revoke the clean car standard (CCS) if it gets into power after voting against the policy when a series of amendments to its regulations went through parliament last week.
Simon Court, the party’s transport spokesman, says when the new scheme comes into force from January 2023 it is expected to increase the price of used cars and “make life tougher for everyday Kiwis grappling with the cost-of-living crisis”.
“The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association says the policy doesn’t work because of a lack of electric vehicle [EV] supply, and in particular a lack of electric options for utes and vans,” he adds. “Purchasers of petrol and diesel vehicles are paying more for no reason.
“It has also been reported that price rises in the electric-vehicle market have already soaked up consumer rebates so those buying electric cars are no better off either. Prices have increased by between $3,000 and $11,000 per vehicle.”
Act and the Green Party voted against the Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Bill (No 2) as it went through its three readings at parliament on November 22.
The amendments, which are now awaiting royal assent, mean motorbikes and mopeds are no longer captured by the legislation and importers will have any charges under the system deferred until June 1, 2023.
Court, pictured, says the CCS will impose an extra cost on New Zealand businesses and families who have no other current options but to buy a petrol or diesel vehicle for their needs.
“It doesn’t reduce global emissions either because no matter how much New Zealand taxpayers subsidise EVs, it doesn’t make any more come out of the factory in Asia or Europe.
“In 2021 automotive manufacturers told parliament’s transport committee and [Transport] Minister Michael Wood that existing factories would be converted to produce almost exclusively EVs and hydrogen vehicles between 2025 and 2028.”
He predicts there will be an “almost unlimited supply” of low-emissions vehicles to New Zealand after those conversions happen. Until then, Court warns the CCS will only increase prices in the absence of consumers having much choice when buying a vehicle.
His party believes incentives to reduce fuel use and carbon emissions are the prices at the pump and it is keen to repeal the “ute tax” and the Zero Carbon Act behind the clean car regulations.
“The cost of fuel already includes the cost of carbon emissions under the Emissions Trading Scheme [ETS], around 20 cents per litre for petrol and 23 cents per litre for diesel,” notes Court.
“Act would use the revenues from the ETS to pay Kiwis a carbon tax dividend of around $250 per person per annum, which amounts to around $750 to $1000 per household. Act believes Kiwis should have the right to choose whether to use the ETS revenues to put towards a low-emissions vehicle, install a heat pump or just pay a household bill.”
