Australian states were warned road user tax on electric vehicles could discourage its uptake

Leaked report says tax would slow emissions cuts, with South Australia and Victoria warned before they announced plan to introduce charge

Australian state governments were warned a road user tax on clean cars introduced without other support for the technology could discourage its uptake and impede greenhouse gas cuts. The advice was received before South Australia and Victoria announced plans to introduce a charge on driving electric vehicles (EVs).

A leaked report to the Board of Treasurers - a states and territories forum - shows it jointly commissioned advice on how to best introduce road-user charging on zero and low-emissions vehicles after agreeing to high-level principles" earlier this year.