[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE - SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE - Minister Truss must explain refusal to authorise electric car for Aust

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, 16 August 2006

Minister Truss must explain refusal to authorise electric car for Aust

Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss must explain why the federal
government is frustrating attempts to make an electric car available to
Australian drivers, the Australian Greens said today.

Greens transport spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said that while
Prime Minister Howard was promoting his LPG conversion rebate, his
government has been thwarting efforts to get an electric car onto
Australian roads.

"Prime Minister Howard is trying to sell his short-term response to
rising fuel prices as a great saving when it will have very limited
benefits for most people," Senator Milne said in Canberra.

"What the Prime Minister isn't telling the public is that Minister Truss
and his department have frustrated efforts by The Solar Shop in Adelaide
to have the Reva electric car authorised for use on Australian roads.

"With the SA government failing to back the car's release, the car today
is being transported by truck to WA where the state government has
agreed to trial it.

"Under the terms of the car's importation, the vehicle will have to be
exported or destroyed if is not approved for use on Australian roads by
5 November 2006.

"Electric cars are cheap to run, reduce dependency on oil and when
powered by renewable energy are much more sustainable that conventional
vehicles. 

"They are approved for use in Europe and in the United States. The Reva
Electric Car Company secured a $2,600 subsidy per car from Japan,
similar to that of the UK to which it has supplied more than 500 cars. 

"Unlike the governments of Japan and the UK, the Australian government
seems intent on keeping the electric car off Australian roads. Minister
Truss must explain his actions."


Contact: Katrina Willis 03 6234 4566 or 0437 587 562
 
A photograph of Senator Milne with the Reva car is available on request.




Katrina Willis
Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone 03 6234 4566
Fax 03 6234 2144
Mobile 0437 587 562
www.christinemilne.org.au