4 things car enthusiasts should know before voting

With the federal election upon us, many people may still be looking for guidance on which party deserves their vote.

There are so many policies and promises floating around, it’s hard to find the ones relevant to you. So, here are the four policies you should know about this election – and the parties standing behind them.

1. Liberal Party

This federal election could herald a revolution in imported cars to Australia with two different federal government reviews confirming Australian citizens should be able to freely import used vehicles.

The Liberal Party plans to lift the red tape and allow car enthusiasts to personally import one car every two years starting in 2018. Further to this, they plan to lift restrictions on cars that can be imported and remove the $12,000 special duty on imported used vehicles.

Under the new proposition, vehicles that are at least 25 years old will be eligible for import under these new arrangements. This rule would intentionally combat the current concessional arrangement stating an individual can import a car if it was manufactured before 1 January 1989.

For newer vehicles, the policies will be revamped and limits on the number of vehicles that can be imported by Registered Automotive Workshops will be removed.

2. Labor Party

Labor has shown reluctance to support the car import policy, indicating it would block the federal government’s attempt to push the policy through. Treasurer Scott Morrison shadowed this, telling the press the policy that allows consumers to import personal cars still needs to go through the “normal partyroom process”.

Already Coalition MPs are calling the new proposal “dead”, and if they were to win the federal election, they have shown that the policy will almost certainly be killed off. “Labor is concerned that the proposed arrangements have not been properly thought through,” said a spokesperson.

Worried about the potential implications to road safety, consumer protection and environmental performance, Labor has stood firmly behind its decision to oppose the new used car reforms.

3. The Greens

Perhaps unsurprisingly, The Greens plan to transition Australians from petroleum to electric vehicles by providing incentives for Australian consumers following the federal election.

On top of this, they plan to hit luxury cars with higher taxes to help pay for electric car incentives and necessary charging stations. This plan is already in place in some places with officials promising dozens of electric vehicle charging stations in WA, as part of a Greens Party plan to slash transport pollution.

4. Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (AMEP)

The Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party will face a tough haul this election following concerns that AMEP Senator Ricky Muir will most likely be ousted for a more relevant party.

Without representation in the senate, AMEP will have a hard time finding a voice and will lose a great deal of influence, yet despite his short term, Senator Muir vows he will be back and will continue to challenge the ingrained dishonesty of politics.