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Environment, Government Federal

MEDIA ALERT: EV support vital to cut petrol bills and climate pollution for Australian families

The Climate Council < 1 min read

5 MAY 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Australian families looking to cut their fuel bills and beat the energy crisis with clean solutions will welcome news the Federal Government is maintaining its electric vehicle discount measures in this year’s Budget.

 

But the government’s plan to cut support back by 75% after 2029 will make it harder for Australians to free themselves from petrol price pain.

 

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said polling released by the Climate Council today showed about two-thirds of Australians want this Budget to make EVs more affordable.

 

She said families using the policy tended to be those in the middle to outer suburbs - with long commutes, and crippling petrol bills.

 

Amanda McKenzie said: "This policy has already opened the EV door for hundreds of thousands of Aussie families in middle and outer suburbs facing enormous fuel bills.”

“Polling released today shows two-thirds of Australians want this Federal Budget to make EVs more affordable and give them more control over their bills.

"But from 2029 the government plans to put the brakes on progress, making it harder for Australians to get into an EV and free themselves from petrol price pain. New EV commitments will be vital to leave petrol bills and climate pollution in the rearview mirror.”

 

Talent available for interview: 

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie, based in Melbourne

See the Climate Council release and full report

ENDS 

For interviews please contact the Climate Council media team on [email protected] or call 0485 863 063.

 

The Climate Council is an independent, community-funded organisation. We provide evidence-based information on climate change impacts and solutions to journalists, policymakers, and the wider Australian community.

 

For further information, go to: climatecouncil.org.au

Or follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads

 

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