Bill Shorten has white Tesla Model 3, first MP to get EV in parliamentary fleet

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten is the proud owner of a white Tesla Model 3, and claims to be the first federal MP to have an electric vehicle as part of his allocation in the ministerial and parliamentary fleet.

Shorten actually obtained the Model SR+ a few months ago, and uses it in his home base of Melbourne. He follows in the footsteps of NSW energy minister Matt Kean, the first state or federal parliamentarian to obtain an EV (also a Tesla Model 3).

It turns out that Shorten actually got his before Liberal MP Katie Allen, who also has a Model 3 and reckons it goes “like a rocket”, and Shorten was instrumental in making sure such cars were available to federal MPs.

Shorten, now the shadow minister for Government Services and NDIS says he fell in love with the Tesla at his first test drive.

“I haven’t looked back – neither has my family,” he said. “It’s excellent to drive, it’s economical and I feel like I’m helping the environment. And it’s cheaper to run than a petrol car, saving the taxpayer money.”

Shorten said he had been a big proponent of electric vehicles and would like to see Australia become a world leading adapter and manufacturer in the space.

“It took a fair bit of negotiating to get it added to the parliamentary car fleet, but we got there and I was the first politician to have a fully electric car.”

The Driven understands that other federal MPs are also expressing interest in obtaining a Tesla Model 3 through the leasing program managed by SG Fleet. The federal Commcar fleet currently has one Model 3 in operation.

And Kean, now also NSW treasurer, says his colleagues are also keen to get an EV, including newly elected premier Dom Perrottet, who had a test drive of Kean’s Model 3.

You can hear more in the recent Driven podcast: The Driven Podcast: “Everyone wants to drive it.” Matt Kean and his Tesla