Blockbuster high court case

Electric car owners, Kath Davies and Chris Vanderstock are taking the action against Victoria and its road user charge, and also have the support of the Federal Government.

Victoria introduced the Zero and Low Emissions Vehicles (ZLEV) distance-based charge on 1 July 2021 and imposes a 2.6 cent levy for every kilometre driven by an electric or hydrogen car, and 2.1 cents per kilometre for plug-in hybrids.

The Victorian Government said the levy was designed to replace fuel excise – a 47.7 cents-per-litre tax collected by the Federal Government and then distributed to the states as it sees fit – because electric vehicles were in effect getting a free ride by bypassing this revenue stream.

Victorian owners who have plug-in hybrids (either battery or petrol) pay both taxes.

The rest of Australia’s states and territories are standing behind Victoria.

However, the Commonwealth is arguing the ZLEV charge is a tax on goods – something only the Federal Government can impose.

The ATA has lodged submissions with the High Court in support of the plaintiffs, because of the implications of the case for road users and trucking businesses.

Without a sale, more than 1,500 staff were told they would be made redundant and the firm would enter liquidation, The assets include 500 trucks 1,000 trailers and warehouses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

The TWU jumped on board to help the drivers by talking to other major operators for redeployment opportunities and it would be hoped that some of this influx of