The Albanese Government has announced a $40 million investment to roll out public kerbside and fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Australia, aiming to accelerate the transition to cleaner transport and reduce household costs.
The funding, unveiled by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Assistant Minister Josh Wilson, will support the development of an expanded EV charging ecosystem by leveraging electricity networks and private charging providers.
According to the Government, the initiative will:
1.Identify suitable connection points for charging infrastructure and cut connection time and costs.
2.Address charging black spots, particularly in regional areas.
3.Kickstart kerbside charging using existing electricity poles.
Consultations with governments, distribution networks, charging providers, and market bodies will guide the rollout, targeting both urban and regional areas with immediate needs.
This initiative builds on recent government investments in EV infrastructure under the Driving the Nation Fund.
Minister Chris Bowen said:
“We’ve delivered more choice of cheaper-to-run cars and now we’re going to help make sure it’s easier to charge in the suburbs and the regions. We want to make connecting EV chargers faster and cheaper, and kickstart the kerbside charging potential on poles to expand our network.”
Bowen added that industry analysis shows working Australians — including teachers, nurses, and tradies — are among the most common EV buyers, with adoption strongest in outer suburban areas such as Werribee (Melbourne), Baulkham Hills (Sydney), and Springfield (Brisbane).
Assistant Minister Josh Wilson said:
“More public charging capacity will support the growing adoption of EVs, especially among Australians without access to off-street parking. We want to give more families and businesses the opportunity to benefit from the significant cost savings of EV ownership.”
Federal Member for Perth Patrick Gorman welcomed the move, saying:
“Perth voted for real climate action, and today’s announcement will make it easier and cheaper to charge an EV in Perth suburbs and across Australia. Public charging infrastructure is critical to helping Perth families transition to a net zero future.”
