Party transport spokesman says feebate scheme should be relaxed for cyclone replacement vehicles.
The Act party says “the government’s ute tax needs to go” with up to 10,000 vehicles expected to be written off in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Its transport spokesperson, Simon Court, says: “Transport Minister Michael Wood has point-blank refused to even consider allowing cyclone victims to avoid a significant tax when replacing their written-off utes.”
He cites a debate in parliament on March 14, saying Wood said he wouldn’t allow tradies and orchardists whose utilities were destroyed by Gabrielle to be exempted from the clean car discount (CCD) so they could replace their utes “without being hit by thousands of dollars in taxes”.
“On what planet is it compassionate to force cyclone victims to pay that tax when they have no option of buying an electric ute,” says Court, pictured.
“Wood has tried to claim those who have lost their vehicles will just buy an EV. He knows all too well that tradies, farmers and large families don’t have that option. The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association has previously stated there’s a lack of EV supply and, in particular, a lack of electric options for utes and vans.
“Act hoped the government would be able to display a degree of compassion and pragmatism and relax the clean car standard [CCS] and CCD for people who need to replace vehicles lost in the floods. But Wood is happy to forge ahead with policy that’s adding thousands of dollars to bills of people who have lost everything.
“Insurers and lending companies have also indicated they are uncertain about their obligations to pay the additional cost imposed by the CCD and CCS, which means some people simply won’t be able to afford to replace their vehicles like-for-like.”
Court reiterates Act wants to repeal the CCD and CCS because they are “bad policies that impose additional costs on consumers during a cost-of-living crisis”.
He adds: “Many businesses and families have no other options than to buy a petrol or diesel vehicle for their needs. They shouldn’t be punished for that.
“It doesn’t reduce global emissions either because no matter how much taxpayers subsidise EVs, it doesn’t make any more come out of the factory in Asia or Europe, plus New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme already puts a cap on emissions.”
Keyword: Act on attack over CCD