Sarah Brookes – GŁÓWNY REPORTER, AUSTRALIA | Opublikowano: 21:37 GMT, 23 marca 2026 | Zaktualizowano: 22:58 GMT, 23 marca 2026
Australia seriously considers introducing a new tax for electric vehicle users, with the Treasury actively exploring options before the May budget. Currently, drivers who use petrol or diesel pay about 52.6 cents per liter in federal fuel excise – a fixed tax that does not apply to fully electric vehicle drivers. Consequently, electric vehicle owners have been able to use the road infrastructure without contributing to this significant government revenue stream. Modeling of the tax is currently being done within the Treasury, as Jim Chalmers prepares to brief Anthony Albanese and the Labor cabinet, who will ultimately decide on the proposal’s future. The Australian reports that the proposed policy options include a distance-based road-user charge calculated through GPS tracking or annual odometer readings.
The surge in electric vehicle sales, which increased by 95.9% compared to last February, with EVs now representing 11.8% of all new vehicle sales, is driving the discussion. This figure is expected to rise further in the coming months as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz raises oil prices, prompting more drivers to consider transitioning to EVs. As fuel consumption per vehicle drops due to more efficient engines, hybrid technology, and the rise in electric vehicle sales, governments have repeatedly highlighted the need for a new road-use fee for specific vehicles to help finance road infrastructure.
Chalmers has previously warned that the current fuel excise system is not sustainable for funding roads in the next decade or two, indicating that policy adjustments will be necessary. 'The status quo won’t be sustainable over the next decade or two,’ he told News.com.au last year. 'As more and more people switch from petrol cars to EVs, we must ensure that tax arrangements support road investment. But we’re not in a hurry; changes of this nature will be made because the current situation will not work in 10 or 20 years.’ The federal budget for 2024 predicted a $470 million drop in fuel excise receipts over the next four years starting in 2024-25 due to the shift to EVs and lower fuel consumption.
