Joint media release: $40 million to expand Australia’s EV charging network

The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Josh Wilson MP, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy

The Albanese Government is providing $40 million to help deliver nationwide public kerbside and fast EV charge points as part of its Net Zero Plan.

The new infrastructure will give more Australians the confidence to transition to an EV and help lower household transportation costs and emissions from Australia’s transport sector.

The Commonwealth, along with state and territory governments, has made significant investment in public charging infrastructure, particularly over the past four years.  

Building on these efforts, the Government will further boost Australia’s EV charger network by leveraging the complementary strengths of electricity networks and charging providers.

This will help build a bigger and more effective EV charging ecosystem that helps all motorists and businesses.

Funding will help unlock the potential of electricity networks to accelerate deployment of kerbside and fast EV chargers, including by:

• progressing initiatives which identify suitable places to connect charging infrastructure and provide options to reduce the time and cost to connect
• identifying new models to support deployment in black spots, such as regional areas
• kickstarting Australia’s kerbside charging ecosystem on existing electricity poles

This new work will target urban and regional locations with immediate and short-term need for charging, with delivery informed by consultation in the coming months with governments, market bodies, distribution networks, charging providers and other groups.

The funding builds on the Albanese Government’s ongoing work to expand charging infrastructure across Australia as part of its Driving the Nation Fund.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen

“We’ve delivered more choice of cheaper-to-run cars and now we’re going to help make sure it’s easier to charge in the suburbs and the region.  

“We want to make connecting EV chargers faster and cheaper and kickstart the kerbside charging potential on poles to expand our EV charging network and that will help more Australians choose an EV.  

“Industry analysis shows the most common EV buyers using the Electric Car Discount are working Australians, including teachers, nurses and tradies.  

“Top EV adoption areas are in our outer suburban centres such as Werribee in south-west Melbourne, Baulkham Hills in north-west Sydney and Springfield south-west of Brisbane.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson

“More public charging capacity will support the growing adoption of EVs, especially among Australians without access to off-street parking.

“We want to give more Australian families and businesses the opportunity to benefit from the significant cost savings of EV ownership.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Perth, Patrick Gorman

“Perth voted for real climate action, and today’s announcement will make it easier and cheaper to charge an electric vehicle in Perth suburbs and right across Australia.”

“Public charging infrastructure will be a critical part of helping Perth families transition to a net zero future with electric vehicles.”

“Investments like these turn Perth’s local values into meaningful national action on climate.”