NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey pushes state electric‑vehicle road‑user charge ahead of federal action

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey announced that the state will implement a road‑user charge on electric and plug‑in hybrid vehicles, costing over three cents per kilometre for pure electric cars and 2.4 cents for hybrids. The scheme is expected to raise about $440 million in its first three years. Mookhey said the state prefers a national levy but will proceed without one, citing the High Court’s 2023 decision that a similar Victorian charge could only be levied by the federal government.

He noted the Commonwealth could refer its powers to NSW to avoid legal challenges and that Service NSW is working on a payment system. Western Australia is also planning a comparable charge for July 2027.