“Ute tax:” Australians not falling for spin as clear majority want cleaner, cheaper cars

New polling from the Climate Council has found that a clear majority of Australians want cleaner cars that are cheaper to run to help cut cost of living pressures and cut emissions.

The survey suggests broad public support for the government’s proposed New Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES), despite a recent scare campaign by the fossil car lobby and its political representatives labelling the NVES a “ute tax” and a “new family car tax”, claims that have been broadly rejected and now debunked by RMIT ABC Fact Check.

The nation-wide polling found an overwhelming majority of participants (80%) reported feeling squeezed by high rising petrol bills. A majority (74%) also said cutting pollution from our cars is important for tackling climate change.

The Climate Council says with fuel bills and pollution on the rise, two in three Australians (65%) agree we deserve access to the same cleaner, more efficient cars that are already being sold overseas.

“It’s clear Aussies want the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard to unlock Australia’s car market and get us on the road to savings.” says the Climate Council.

Climate Council’s head of advocacy Dr Jennifer Rayner says the public isn’t falling for the lies and spin coming from the legacy car lobby.

“We’ve heard a lot of self-interested talk lately from multinational car brands about what Aussies want to drive. The answer couldn’t be clearer: the majority of Australians want cars that are cheaper to run and don’t pollute our air and climate,” said Rayner.

“The big brands aren’t bringing cleaner, cheaper cars to Australia right now, even though they’re already selling them in the millions overseas. An effective New Vehicle Efficiency Standard can change that.

“Australians understand our dirty cars are costing us, and our environment, far too much. Mums and dads are particularly feeling the pinch of high petrol prices, and they’re worried about the risks of escalating climate change for their kids.

“Cleaning up our cars is a practical solution on both fronts, and Aussies know it. That’s why a majority supports this standard.”

Polling spells more trouble for FCAI and fossil backed politicians

The polling results will be disappointing reading for Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) CEO Tony Weber and for politicians who’ve recently been running a scare campaign against the NVES.

Last week, Tesla spectacularly quite the lobby group over its claims on the new standard.

“Over the past three weeks, Tesla considers that the FCAI has repeatedly made claims that are demonstrably false,” said Tesla in a statement last week.

The electric vehicle giant also referred the FCAI to Australia’s consumer watchdog, the ACCC, for making the false claims around future pricing.

The following day Polestar followed Tesla’s lead also cancelling its membership with the FCAI saying “Such a campaign is not aligned with Polestar’s focus, and we cannot support it.”

Then after flagging its concerns, Volkswagen Group Australia quit the car lobby’s policy committee. “Volkswagen Group Australia speaks for itself on public and policy matters including the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard,” the company said in a statement. “A strong (standard) is in the best interests of this country.”

The false claims about looming price hikes were parroted by mainstream television, radio and newspaper media outlets seeding the disinformation into the public discourse and damaging the perception of one of Australia’s most important pollution reducing policies.

The misleading figures were also regurgitated by coalition Senator Matt Canavan and Liberal party leader Peter Dutton.

With last month’s record EV sales, new polling showing a clear majority of support for clean cars, member resignations and the prospect of an ACCC investigation, the fossil car lobby’s fear campaign may be about to come to a spluttering halt.