Zoe Moffatt
Riddells Creek resident and hybrid electric vehicle owner is fed-up with paying double tax, and said the 2021 state governments zero and low emission vehicle (ZLEV) charge is illegal.
Resident Chris Murphy, is a pensioner from Riddells Creek and owner of a demo model Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid electrical vehicle (PHEV).
Ms Murphy said she brought the car to reduce her greenhouse emissions but has since been hit with having to pay double tax, through petrol and the ZLEV charge.
“I brought the car in January 2021 … it runs for about 30 kilometres on battery and then goes onto petrol,” Ms Murphy said.
“I run my car 80 per cent on petrol [and] I can only charge it at home … so I have to drive home, recharge and then go again.
“It’s only good for going to the shops and back again [on just the battery].”
Through using petrol Ms Murphy is paying the Commonwealth fuel excise which, from February 1, 2023, is charged at 47.7 cents per litre for petrol and diesel.
On top of this, Ms Murphy is having to pay the ZLEV fee of 2.1 cents per kilometre despite primarily using petrol to run her car.
“It’s totally illegal … I’m paying double tax, I’m paying tax to the government twice,” she said.
“Even if I charge [my car] at home I’m using my electricity and paying tax through that … for a full electric vehicle there should be a tax but not for a PHEV.”
Ms Murphy said last year she drove around New South Wales and Queensland for about six months volunteering with a charity.
Despite being in a different state and primarily using petrol Ms Murphy said she was still hit with the ZLEV fee.
“I wasn’t going to pay it, I thought stuff them and… they sent an email saying they would deregister the car if I didn’t pay it…”
“It’s like blackmail.”
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan was contacted for comment but did not respond by deadline.
