Agree 100% here regarding incentives. At the end of the day, we are all waiting for our cars to be delivered because there is ZERO incentive for Elon/Tesla to export to this market when we have no incentives for manufacturers or for customers who adopt EV's as a mode of every day transport vehicle. The better half consults to the Federal government on innovation technology and her committee just can't seem to get the ministers to understand that they need to offer incentives to investors and creators in this field. Meanwhile, every smart bastard from Oz is heading to the USUK/Europe and taking their talents and technology nous with them..
Oh and glad the LCT doesn't apply in Victoria! Ordered the SR+. Don't care about the performance bit. Too old to be drag racing at the lights with a baby strapped in the back
I have a slightly contrarian view to yours, though I understand where you are coming from.
I actually seek neither EV subsidies/incentives nor look for luxury tax expeditions/reductions.
By US (current and future Tesla drivers) seeking these, we can be labelled as feeling "entitled" or becoming just another self-interested lobby group that is corrupting our political system.
HOWEVER, what really really bugs me is that we as a society are subsidising ICE vehicle manufacturers through their social cost, which is being paid for by the tax payer. The burden on the national health system, defence budget, "natural" catastrophes from particulate pollution, fighting for "energy security" as well as climate change is enormous, yet is is not priced into new ICE vehicles.
Obviously, I am still driving an ICE vehicle, and many people will be compelled to keep buying them for a while. I do not want to have a "holier than though" attitude (something us Tesla drivers are already being accused of). However, as a society, people need to become aware of these issues and this is what really needs to change. Especially now, given that there is a better choice.
Also, all we need is a level playing field. What people call "subsidies" that Tesla obtained for some of its factories in the USA are just fairly standard "incentives" that large corporations negotiate with state governments for setting up new facilities in their states and thereby generate new jobs and economic growth. There is so much FUD and misinformation...
Finally, and thereby somewhat contradicting my earlier statement - as a nation - early EV incentives and subsidies would have the advantage of potentially allowing Australia to build a vertically integrated EV technology industry (starting with mining of battery materials all the way to battery and possibly even EV manufacturing), with associated benefits of job creation and economic growth.
In that respect, reading about your wife's experience with ministerial bone-heads causes a certain degree of despair...
