The Honourable Mark Bailey, Minister for Transport and Main Roads (Qld), Media Release, 29 January 2022
New penalties will be in place in the coming weeks for non-electric vehicle owners who illegally park in an electric vehicle (EV) charging bay.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the issue had been a pain point for the rapidly increasing number of Queensland EV drivers.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to supporting a zero-emission transport future, and it’s encouraging to see more and more Queenslanders than ever transition to electric vehicles,” Mr Bailey said.
“There are now 7110 registered electric cars on our roads, which is up by over 1605 per cent since 2017. (As at 31 December 2021)
“I’ve travelled across Queensland and have heard first hand from EV owners that they often can’t get into charging spots due to other cars using them for parking, which is why we’ll be firmly cracking down on this behaviour.
“A penalty of $55 will apply for those who park a non-electric vehicle in an EV charging bays from Friday, 4 February – joining a number of new penalties rolled out on Queensland roads.
“You can’t leave your car parked at a petrol pump, so why should EV charging bays be any different.”
Mr Bailey said the new infringement supported the Palaszczuk Government’s expansion of the Queensland Electric Super Highway (QESH).
“We have already invested $5.3 million to construct 31 QESH EV charging sites across Queensland, as part of our existing Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy: The Future is Electric,” he said.
“Last year, we also announced an additional $2.75 million to nearly double the length of the existing QESH network – taking the number of fast charging locations in Queensland to 49.
“This means you can travel from Brisbane to Mount Isa, Goondiwindi to Emerald, and Longreach to Cairns knowing there are charging stations along the way.
“The use of the QESH network is at an all-time high, which is why we will continue to invest in these important initiatives and crack down on illegal parking at EV charging bays across the state.”
Looking towards the future, Mr Bailey said a new Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy would be announced shortly.
“Queensland was the first start in Australia to develop an EV strategy and we recognise the importance in continuing to encourage Queenslanders to transition to zero-emission transport,” he said.
“The new strategy aims to break down barriers to purchasing an EV and lay out a plan for Queensland’s clean transport future.
“I look forward to announcing the strategy in the coming months, to the benefit of current and future EV owners alike.”
For more information on Queensland’s Electric Vehicle Strategy: The Future is Electric visit our website.
For information on road rules and penalties visit http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/
