Comments on: Rudd’s hybrid con and automotive Darwinism http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/06/10/rudds-hybrid-con-and-automotive-darwinism/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:58:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: vincent mahon http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/06/10/rudds-hybrid-con-and-automotive-darwinism/#comment-21037 vincent mahon Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-21037 If the Rudd Government was serious about encouraging consumers to buy green fuel efficient cars it would reduce the tarriff on passenger vehicles from 10% to 5%. Currently we have the anomalous situation where 4WDs including sports utility vehicles attract a 5% tariff. So if consumers want to buy a green car they are penalised. They pay more under a not green friendly tariff regime.<br /><br />Reducing the tariff would be more practical to increase the affordability of fuel efficient cars than pretending to appear to be doing something on petrol by having FuelWatch.<br /><br />Australia's car industry is not viable when government handouts are needed to prop up multinational companies Ford, GM and Toyota. Prime Minister wants us to buy expensive Australian made green cars when they become available and in the meantime pay a higher tariff on the imported ones. Taxpayers are finding out protectionism comes at a high price in more ways than one.<br /><br />Oh and by the way, the same government reduced the affordability of solar panels by means testing the rebate on pretext of attacking middle class welfare. Yet providing corporate welfare to Ford, GM and Toyota is for our greater good!<br />Vincent Mahon If the Rudd Government was serious about encouraging consumers to buy green fuel efficient cars it would reduce the tarriff on passenger vehicles from 10% to 5%. Currently we have the anomalous situation where 4WDs including sports utility vehicles attract a 5% tariff. So if consumers want to buy a green car they are penalised. They pay more under a not green friendly tariff regime.

Reducing the tariff would be more practical to increase the affordability of fuel efficient cars than pretending to appear to be doing something on petrol by having FuelWatch.

Australia’s car industry is not viable when government handouts are needed to prop up multinational companies Ford, GM and Toyota. Prime Minister wants us to buy expensive Australian made green cars when they become available and in the meantime pay a higher tariff on the imported ones. Taxpayers are finding out protectionism comes at a high price in more ways than one.

Oh and by the way, the same government reduced the affordability of solar panels by means testing the rebate on pretext of attacking middle class welfare. Yet providing corporate welfare to Ford, GM and Toyota is for our greater good!
Vincent Mahon

]]> By: JamesK http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/06/10/rudds-hybrid-con-and-automotive-darwinism/#comment-21038 JamesK Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-21038 I thought we were going to get a thoughtful, measured and active new PM. Active he is, but only it seems concerning spin and image rather than the well being of the nation and of the environment. His international grandstanding of late: nuclear disarmament, OPEC blowtorching and asian unity eu style is frankly embarrassing. I have enjoyed the article and largely agree and the comments above. Thanks. I thought we were going to get a thoughtful, measured and active new PM. Active he is, but only it seems concerning spin and image rather than the well being of the nation and of the environment. His international grandstanding of late: nuclear disarmament, OPEC blowtorching and asian unity eu style is frankly embarrassing. I have enjoyed the article and largely agree and the comments above. Thanks.

]]> By: Colin Jones http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/06/10/rudds-hybrid-con-and-automotive-darwinism/#comment-21039 Colin Jones Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-21039 Rudd is a dud if he thinks that manufacturing a few hybrid cars in Australia is going to solve our over- dependency on the gas guzzlers at present being made in Australia. Hybrids still use petrol.<br />Why oh why are the import tariff concessions on imported 4WD's still there. Where is Garrett in all this? <br />All talk and no real action is what we're getting from this new lot in Canberra and I feel sick in the stomach. Rudd is a dud if he thinks that manufacturing a few hybrid cars in Australia is going to solve our over- dependency on the gas guzzlers at present being made in Australia. Hybrids still use petrol.
Why oh why are the import tariff concessions on imported 4WD’s still there. Where is Garrett in all this?
All talk and no real action is what we’re getting from this new lot in Canberra and I feel sick in the stomach.

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