The NSW government’s upcoming budget deficit would be $2.7 billion worse than forecast – or almost 50 per cent bigger than expected – without a controversial rail entity propping it up.
The government is rolling out a new series of short courses to address skills shortages in emerging speciality areas including the servicing of electric buses and cars.
More than 1.5 million daily commuters in Sydney will face price increases to their normal trips after the government announced a hike - despite advice they should introduce free travel days.
-
shares
Victorian owners of electric cars and other zero-emissions vehicles will be required to pay a road-user tax of 2.5 cents per kilometre driven from 1 July 2021 – and the precedent could trigger other states to follow.
The charge amounts to $375 a year based on the national average distance travelled of 15,000km, or just $125 a year for vehicles that travel 5000km a year.
The Victorian Government argued the road user charge needed to be introduced because zero emissions vehicles avoid fuel excise, a large portion of which goes towards roads.
The new laws, passed this week by the Victorian Legislative Assembly, also require plug-in hybrid owners to pay 2 cents for every kilometre driven ($300 for every 15,000km).