Queensland’s centre-left government is planning to build electric vehicle (EV) chargers every 150 kilometres (93 miles).
The move at the state level follows federal Labor also promising to build an EV charger over the same distance during the 2022 election campaign.
The state project is expected to cost $42 million (US$26.7 million) and will involve placing 2,500 EV charging stations across the state in a three year time frame. However, most of the chargers will be used to service the state government’s electric vehicle fleet.
EV Push
Transport and digital services minister Mark Bailey confirmed the move with a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Oct. 24.
“This is just another innovative way that Queensland’s leading in terms of encouraging people to use electric vehicles and for them to be charged in all kinds of different places,” he told the ABC.
“We want to see people taking public transport, we want to see zero-emissions vehicles.”
Queensland is due to hold an election on Oct. 26, 2024. Polls in August showed the Liberal National Party (LNP) overtaking Labor party with 38 percent of the primary vote compared to 32 percent for Labor. The Resolve Poll also showed support for Ms. Palaszczuk had fallen to 43 percent.
At the federal level, the Albanese government recently released a national map of charging stations in Australia.
The government is working with NRMA to build 117 fast EV charging sites, about every 150 kilometres on national highways, at a cost of $39.3 million.
“EVs are cleaner and cheaper to run, but for too long, range anxiety has been one of the biggest hurdles for Australians when considering whether or not to buy an EV,” the federal government said in August.
The first Ausgrid EVX electric vehicle charger at Dixon Park in Newcastle, Australia, Dec. 19, 2022. (AAP Image/Supplied by Ausgrid)
In the first half of 2023, only 8.4 percent of new cars sold were EVs, according to an Electric Vehicle Council report (pdf). Most of these cars were Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, and BYD Atto 3 model cars. However, EV sales in the first half of 2023 were 120.5 percent higher than all of 2022.
Plan to Legislate Renewable Energy Targets
Meanwhile, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk plans to legislate the state’s renewable energy targets.
These targets are 50 percent renewable energy by the year 2030, 70 percent in 2032, and 80 percent by the year 2035.
“It’s part of our energy and jobs plan: transitioning Queensland from a reliance on coal-fired power to cleaner, cheaper renewables. The legislation will be introduced today,” Ms. Palaszczuk said wrote on X today.
“It will also ensure Queensland’s energy assets remain where they belong: in public hands.”
However, LNP leader David Crisafulli is turning his focus to youth crime as parliament sits in Queensland on Oct. 24.
“Bombshell secret texts and emails have revealed the Palaszczuk Labor government is out of ideas when it comes to tackling the Youth Crime Crisis,” he posted on X.
“These documents are damning and paint a picture of chaos and crisis within the Labor Government.
“Queenslanders deserve a government that has the right priorities for Queensland’s future and these documents prove Labor does not.”
Monica O’Shea is a reporter based in Australia. She previously worked as a reporter for Motley Fool Australia, Daily Mail Australia, and Fairfax Regional Media.
