Four days to the election.

ACT Greens: Electric vehicles

The ACT Greens have introduced an electric vehicle policy, aiming “to drive a faster, fairer transition to emissions-free transport”. 

The Greens would install banks of DC fast chargers in every town centre and in the Parliamentary Triangle, and create two solar-covered car parks combined with battery storage and electric vehicle charging. These could be at Park and Ride car parks, and could include low speed EV charging, which is suitable for cars parked for hours.

“Solar covered carparks will be a brand-new thing for Canberra, providing shade, generating electricity and providing a place for people to charge electric vehicles, which will also help soak up daytime solar generation that can be in excess of the needs of the grid,” Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said.

They would introduce a $4,000 rebate for low-income renters and apartment residents and a $15,000 interest-free loan for small businesses to purchase electric vehicles, and offer zero interest loans for multi-unit buildings to install shared electric vehicle chargers.

Mr Rattenbury said the Greens’ EV policies over the last four years had made the ACT the nation’s leader in uptake of electric vehicles. “Our new rebates for low-income renters and apartment residents, loans for small business, and fast-chargers in every town centre will keep up the momentum.”

The Greens would establish a thriving electric vehicle repair, reuse and recycling sector, and expand the Electric Vehicle Training Centre at CIT to train more electric vehicle automotive technicians.

They would also change vehicle duty to discourage highly polluting new vehicles, and aim to prohibit the registration of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035.

“And just where is all this electricity coming from, Shane?” Belco Party co-convenor Bill Stefaniak asked. “How are we going to pay for these initiatives, and can you guarantee it’s safe? Electric cars have many issues that still need to be ironed out.

“The Belco Party does like the idea of hybrid cars, as they generate their own electricity by their very nature. We do not support the phasing out of petrol cars anytime soon, and most of our constituents in outlying areas of North Canberra can’t afford the luxury of well-paid (usually government) inner city élites in buying these fancy and not all that safe trendy toys. It’s early days yet.

“There is also the issue of relying too heavily on China, who is not a friend of Australia, to supply most of these cars.”

Independents for Canberra candidate Anne-Louise Dawes said: “I am all for the future thinking, and am on board with Canberra leading on reducing carbon emissions. But with these policies, will people feel compelled to buy cars they can’t afford, or have growing anxiety for being able to run the cars they have? Arguably, if people have fuel-efficient cars in good condition, it may be more environmentally sound to use them for more of their life span. After all, there are a lot of carbon emissions involved in manufacturing new ones. It would be great to see some more comprehensive long-term thinking here.”

Thomas Emerson said: “Canberrans are proud to be leading the way when it comes to EV uptake, and the Greens should be applauded for driving that agenda despite Labor sometimes trying to take credit. I do worry, though, about the Canberrans who aren’t in a position to purchase an EV and are being left behind by these policy settings.

“There are a lot of incentives on the table here, and I’m not convinced the Greens are striking the right balance when it comes to equity and delivering the just transition we so often hear about. Most people with on-premises charging capabilities are homeowners, generally on single-occupancy blocks where strata title doesn’t prevent the requisite electrical infrastructure upgrades. Social housing tenants and the vast majority of lower-income renters do not have access to onsite charging options and, until they do, will find it hard to commit to the transition.

“Will most of these financial incentives go to those who need them the least?”

“The First Nations Party prioritises care for the environment as one of our core facets,” Paul Girrawah House said. “Our people have cared for country for the past 60,000-plus years. As a part of our care for the environment, the First Nations Party has made a commitment to recycle all corflutes and stakes, offset the use of wood and paper products by planting new trees and offset the carbon emissions of our campaign.”

The Animal Justice Party ACT supports the Greens’ commitment to enabling better take-up of EVs in the ACT, but believes the Greens can do better on other environmental issues, candidate Robyn Soxsmith said.

“Anything that reduces fossil fuel use is a step towards making a safer world for people and animals.  We wish, however, that the Greens’ care for the planet extended to other animals more directly, especially the ACT’s kangaroos who are being systematically exterminated by the policy of the Labor-Greens coalition.

“Aside from the cruelty to the kangaroos themselves and the growing risk that the world will lose this unique and iconic creature, the removal of kangaroos is having a devastating impact on the other animals who share the reserves where the kangaroos have always provided keystone services.  For example, Earless Dragons, who thrive in kangaroo managed habitat, have declined from endangered to critically endangered on the watch of the ACT Greens who have supported the extermination of kangaroos.

“There are other areas where the Greens could do better in terms of protecting the environment and the climate.  They could be at least trying to slow down Canberra’s rampant development, and work to restore as much as possible of the ACT’s degraded farmland to greenhouse sinks and wildlife habitat.  And instead of cutting up swathes of Canberra to make tram tracks, why not simply replace all the ACT’s fossil fuel buses with electric buses?”

Canberra Liberals: Free parking in Civic

The Canberra Liberals plan to boost economic activity and attract more Canberrans to Civic by trialling free parking in government-owned public carparks in the city centre after 5:30pm on weekdays and all weekend for 12 months. After the trial, a review will consider making the change permanent, and extending it to other town centres.

“Many businesses in the city precinct have been suffering due to a lack of people coming into the city, and free parking during these designated times is just one measure to draw people in and help drive economic activity,” Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee said.

The Canberra Business Chamber would welcome free parking, chief executive Greg Harford said.

“The cost of parking is a barrier to Canberrans enjoying a night or weekend out… Many retail and hospitality businesses in the CBD are really struggling at the moment because customers aren’t coming into town as often and aren’t shopping, eating out, or enjoying an experience as much as they might have done previously.

“Ultimately, most people want to be able to access shops, restaurants, bars and other activities in the city, but these businesses can only survive if we get out and support them. Anything that can be done to encourage people back into the city, both during the day and out of office hours, would be well-received by businesses.”

Shadow business minister Leanne Castley said that her motions this term for similar measures were all voted down by Labor and the Greens.

“The Canberra Liberals have announced a number of policies in the lead up to the election to support our local businesses because we value the contribution they make to our city,” Ms Castley said.

“This initiative alone won’t solve the issues businesses are facing, but it will encourage more people into the city to support hospitality and retail businesses, especially after hours.

“Labor and the Greens have continually turned their backs on the business community, but a Canberra Liberals Government is committed to supporting our local businesses to grow and thrive.”

The Belco Party welcomed the initiative. Bill Stefaniak said it would help small business especially and the entertainment industry. “Combined with our free bus policy, it should see more people come into Civic.”

The Strong Independents said they supported the policy. Peter Strong AM added: “If we want to revitalise the business community, then we should attract workers back to the workplace with free travel and free parking.”

Independents for Canberra candidate Anne-Louise Dawes said: “We need to activate the nightlife in the city. Free parking at night in the city might do that. I am concerned this initiative will discourage public transport usage and that it will have the perverse outcome of being a real gift for all those inner-city apartment dwellers. People can buy an apartment with allowance for one vehicle, an evolution of our urban planning that is well designed to reduce car-dependence, and enjoy a free overnight park in the city for their second car.”

Thomas Emerson said: “Our Night-Time Economy Commissioner will take a comprehensive view on how to revitalise our city’s nightlife. While this measure will please some, and may be worth a try, it falls short of the wide-ranging reform needed to make Canberra both a more interesting place for young people and a more encouraging place to start a night-time business.”

ACT Labor released a summary of its plans to transform Civic as Canberra’s population nears half a million. Projects include a 2,000-seat Canberra Lyric Theatre; a community park at the Acton Waterfront; an aquatic centre in Commonwealth Park; light rail; an 8,000-seat entertainment centre; a  University of New South Wales campus on Constitution Avenue; a new Acton fire station and City police station; improving Garema Place and the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings; and free public transport on Fridays.