[Peakoil] Minister Truss must explain refusal to authorise electric car for Aust

[Antony Barry]

Begin forwarded message:

> 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
>
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phone : 02 6241 7659 | mailto:me at Tony-Barry.emu.id.au
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