Government

Dropping income from the fuel excise is projected to put pressure on our road infrastructure going forward and there's no clear plan in place to solve the problem. The latest Infrastructure Australia audit reveals the nation's growing population is putting "unprecedented" strain on roads, arguing the current development boom will need to become the "new normal" if our infrastructure is to keep up.

If you see an emergency vehicle on the roadside with its lights on flash, slow to 40km/h or risk a hefty fine. That's the message from Victoria Police, which this week is launching a crackdown on its controversial 'Slow Down, Move Over' laws. Fines for failing to comply start at $272 in Victoria, with no demerit points. The law was introduced in July 2017 for Victorians, before similar rules were minted in September 2018 for NSW drivers.

The car industry has expressed caution over an "ambitious" plan to have 50 per cent of all new car sales electric by 2030. Peak body for carmakers in Australia, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), said Labor's proposal for electric vehicles and emissions standards is "ambitious" but "anything's possible" – provided the required infrastructure and buyer incentives are put on the table. "It's about getting that broader environment right," said Tony Weber, FCAI CEO.

The Federal Opposition has promised to establish a National Office of Road Safety, should it win the 2019 Federal Election. The proposal was announced at the Labor Party's national conference in Adelaide, with the party arguing "after decades of decline, the road toll is again heading in the wrong direction".

There are new rules for the motor vehicle industry in Australia, after Federal Parliament passed the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 last week as a replacement for the Motor Vehicle Standards Act of 1989. The legislation passed both houses of parliament this week, but the rules won't start coming into force until late in 2019. The Motor Vehicle Standards Act was last updated in 2001.