Roads Australia has joined a variety of bodies within the transport industry calling for the implementation of a nationally consistent road user charge.
RA has called on the federal government to develop and implement the RUC framework by 2028 to secure long-term funding for the nation’s road infrastructure.
Speaking following the RUC Forum in Sydney yesterday, hosted by Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, RA chief executive Ehssan Veiszadeh joined industry and government leaders to discuss the design of a fair, transparent and future-ready RUC system.
“We’re not just talking about replacing a tax — we’re talking about rebuilding equity in how we fund the roads Australians rely on every day,” Veiszadeh says.
As electric vehicles (EVs) become more common, Veiszadeh says the fuel excise, a major source of road maintenance funding, is rapidly declining. Without reform, the RA leader says the industry is at risk of falling short on the infrastructure needed to support its growing population and economy.
RA supports a federally led framework that applies to all vehicles not currently paying fuel excise, with a phased rollout beginning with electric and heavy vehicles. The system would operate alongside existing fuel excise and state-based charges, allowing for a natural transition as EV uptake increases.
“Fuel excise revenue is in terminal decline. Without reform, we risk a future where our roads are underfunded, unsafe, and unable to support the demands of a growing population,” Veiszadeh says.
“A national RUC is not just a funding mechanism — it’s a productivity reform.”
Countries like New Zealand have already implemented RUC for all vehicles, demonstrating that a well-designed system can be both equitable and effective.
Veiszadeh says revenue raised through the RUC must be transparently reinvested into maintaining and improving the road network.
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