I like engineering, art, running and good music. Father, grandad, partner, volunteer firey, small business manager, EV owner and climate activist.
Joined November 2022
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Hey Oz Government. How about building cars here again? You could start by inviting Rivian to build a factory in Australia. Aussies love 4WDs.
cleantechnica.com/2025/12/19…
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Rod Dilkes retweeted
In the past 100 years, no neighboring country of Russia has attacked Russia. During the same period, Russia has invaded 19 countries.
Putin has given no reason to believe that Russia would change its imperialistic course.
Thank you for the interview, @CBSNews.
Rod Dilkes retweeted
Malcolm Roberts Q backfires after asking CCA Chair Matt Kean if he still stands by a former claim he made that 53% of the world is signed to Net Zero, now that USA/others are out
Kean “No I don’t stand by those previous comments, they’ve been EXCEEDED since then.”💥 #Estimates
Rod Dilkes retweeted
With the UN Climate talks underway, it’s time to make the fossil fuel giants pay for the urgent climate action we need.
They’ve created climate chaos while raking in obscene profits.
In the Summer I brought a Bill — backed by 45 MPs from 7 parties — to make them pay.
10. Annual vehicle license fees could be simplified and reduced.
All of the above numbers can be negotiated and adjusted but the gradual introduction of a Road User Charge on ALL VEHICLES is the fundamental principle.
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9. There could be an introduction of the RUC for existing EV drivers after a certain cutoff date (say 2025) to prevent a rush to EVs.
People who have already purchased an EV before this cutoff date they could get a free pass for being early adopters and paying more up front.
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8. There would be no sudden price shock and no refitting of existing cars with new tech or self reporting which would be nightmare to administer.
No new infrastructure would be required by the government, just software engineering to record and administer the RUC.
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7. EV’s would pay only the RUC. It could be introduced at a higher rate than 5% for EVs if it is considered unfair (but not 100% straight up).
This system would encourage the public to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles, hybrids or switch to EV’s.
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6. 4) Introduce the RUC at a rate of 5% for the first year then increasing 5% per year for 20 years until it reaches 100%.
All ICE vehicles sold after the introduction date would pay the existing fuel levy AND the RUC (at 5% increments per year).
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5. This could also be used to determine the vehicles approximate location (from the mobile tower it pings) for differential pricing on country roads.
This is so regional drivers are not penalised with high RUC fees for commuting high kms.
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4. New vehicles would need the tech to communicate vehicle mass and kms in real time via the existing mobile phone (LTE) network. No additional infrastructure required.
By then they will all have this capability anyway.
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3. Effectively this becomes a federal government administered toll charge to extend and maintain Australia's road network.
3) Set a date (say 2028) for introduction of the RUC. Introduce the RUC for ALL NEW VEHICLES SOLD AFTER THIS DATE.
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3. 2) Calculate the full road user charge (RUC) required for to actually pay for all the road infrastructure based on vehicle mass and kms driven.
This would be a per km charge and heavier vehicles would pay relatively more to use the roads.
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2. Trading off EV RUC charges against the fossil fuel levy would be a disaster.
I propose this:
1) Keep the existing Fuel Levy for internal combustion engined (ICE) vehicles. Existing drivers do not have to change a thing.
They pay at the pump. No change. Everyone happy.
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1. I am an EV driver since 2005 (I converted my own car). I have some thoughts on a proposed RUC.
Introducing a RUC only on EVs would be a bad because it could lead to meddling by the government of the day to favour ICE or EV
depending on the ministers ideology and inclination.
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Rod Dilkes retweeted
China has implemented national standards for recycling EV batteries.
Pilot programs report nickel-cobalt-manganese recovery rates of 99.6% & lithium recovery rates of 96.5%!
Recycling batteries will be universal, skyrocketing economic, climate benefits.
carnewschina.com/2025/10/18/…
Rod Dilkes retweeted
To quote my friend Kate Marvel, climate change won't make humanity extinct but we can do better than "not extinct". Raise your standards people!
Rod Dilkes retweeted
New data from Australia's energy market operator reveals that record levels of renewable energy generation in the September quarter coincided with a big drop in electricity prices. ebx.sh/I40img
Rod Dilkes retweeted
A mining myth runs this country. @mattjcan Let’s get real:
Mining employs just 2% of Australians.
It’s 83% foreign-owned.
Pays 13.9% corporate tax.
Crowds out agriculture, tourism, education & manufacturing.
Gets billions in subsidies.
Yet both major parties treat it as untouchable.
That’s not economics. That’s capture.
— Research: Richard Denniss/TAI