The Morrison government is leaving Australia in the slow lane when it comes to preparing for the electric vehicle revolution, say the Australian Greens, following Infrastructure Australia’s listing of a rapid rollout of a national electric vehicle fast-charging network as one of its top priorities.

“The Morrison government is sitting by while other countries zip past us when it comes to encouraging EV uptake,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport spokesperson.

The release today of the final report of the Select Committee on Electric Vehicles shows Australia is at risk of being left behind in the electric vehicle revolution, say the Australian Greens.

Following publication of a report by the Public Transport Users Association, the Greens are calling on Labor and Liberal to get serious about investing in public transport.

“We’ve seen mega freeways and toll roads prioritised over real congestion-busting solutions for decades,” said Sam Hibbins, Victorian Greens transport spokesperson.

Residents in outer suburbs have been appalling neglected by successive governments failing to properly invest in public transport, say the Greens, following the publication of Infrastructure Australia’s Outer Urban Public Transport report.

The government is deluding itself and all Australians about being on track to meet Paris climate change targets as a report from the Climate Council shows that Australia’s transport emissions have risen almost 63% since 1990, say the Greens.

“Australia’s appalling rise in pollution from transport shows what a trainwreck this government’s inaction on climate really is,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport spokesperson.

Leaked documents showing the Turnbull government hid $7 billion in hidden transport funding in the May budget to allow for election announcements in marginal seats show just how cynical infrastructure planning has become.

“This hidden election war chest is a sneaky trick designed to keep the Coalition in government instead of creating the clean, fast, frequent and safe transport options that our cities and regions need,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport spokesperson.

The Greens are calling on the Turnbull Government to legislate stringent vehicle emissions standards before the next election, or see Australia become a global dumping ground for polluting, inefficient cars.

“Reports today indicate that there is pressure ramping up from multinational vehicle manufacturers who don’t want these standards. The Government keeps pushing out the deadline for action on emissions standards, begging the question of who is actually writing their policy,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport spokesperson.

The Coalition and Labor have voted against a Greens amendment to a heavy vehicle regulation bill in the senate today that would have lead to reduced pollution, greenhouse gases and fuel consumption of  trucks.

“Australia is trailing the world when comes to reducing vehicle pollution. Almost 20% of Australia’s carbon pollution comes from transport and that percentage is rising rapidly,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport spokesperson.

The Budget that was trumpeted as a big infrastructure investment is nothing more than a cash splash for private toll road operators and has nowhere near enough investment in the public transport that will unclog our cities and bring down pollution, say the Greens.

“Less than $1 in every $5 is going to public transport from the Government’s infrastructure grants,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport & infrastructure spokesperson.