Media reports’ spark mayor’s “kneejerk” action to suspend installation of EV charge stations

A regional mayor’s ethical reasons for delaying rollout of EV charge stations in the region sparks electric debate at council meeting.

Livingstone Shire Mayor Adam Belot acknowledged his motion to suspend the installation of electric charging stations in the region was a “kneejerk reaction” during debate at today’s (Tuesday) council meeting.

Cr Belot agreed with Cr Rhodes Watson’s “kneejerk” accusation but said he made no apology for giving council the time and opportunity to check claims behind various media reports which allege human rights violations with the mining of minerals needed for electric vehicle production.

After robust discussion, councillors voted 4 – 3 to suspend any further action on advancing EV charge stations in the region pending further investigation about EV manufacturing concerns.

Livingstone Shire Mayor Adam Belot raises global EV concerns.

Council had been pursuing companies involved in the installation of charge stations, as there is currently only one located at the Capricorn Coast and it’s at a resort and available for guests only.

Cr Belot brought his motion to the table with a report saying global media investigations had raised serious human rights and environmental concerns related to the mining of key battery materials like nickel, lithium, and cobalt.

These issues include child labour, unsafe working conditions to environmental degradation.

“While these are legitimate concerns, and council does not ignore them, it is important to acknowledge that not all claims made by the media are substantiated with direct evidence,” the report said.

“For example, Channel 7’s Spotlight program aired an investigation episode (last week) which heavily implied industry-wide issues but failed to identify a single EV brand that sources nickel from the contested operations it mentioned.

“It is therefore important to approach such reports with a critical lens and rely on verified data when shaping local responses and making decisions.”

He said if council’s investigation process ended up with certain EV models not coming to the region because their production was involved with “sweatshop practices”, he was fine with that.

“My trust is starting to shrink with this industry,” he said.

“I would like the State and Federal governments to undertake an enquiry to make sure we can be confident (about mining connections to the various EV models).”

Cr Andrea Friend argued against the motion, saying she too had been “outraged” by the Spotlight report, but council was at risk of sending a negative message to a huge tourism market.

Cr Andrea Friend, Livingstone Shire Council.

“There are over 55,000 electric vehicles registered in Queensland, so who are at Livingstone Shire Council to inadvertently say to users not to travel to Yeppoon by delaying these charge stations?” she said.

“These charging stations will benefit our council and give us a tourism market share, bringing cash into our economy and further promoting the Capricorn Coast as a destination sought after by those 55,000 electric vehicle owners.”

She also asked why the mayor was singling out electric vehicles?

“Nickel is used in aerospace, electronics, chemical, medical, automotive and stainless steel (production),” she said.

“In fact, 68 per cent of the nickel mined worldwide goes into stainless steel. Should I ask you, shall we all rip out our stainless steel sinks because the nickel may have originated in Indonesia?”

Cr Watson said the mayor had been “conned by propaganda” as there was no balance in the Spotlight report.

Cr Belot said his concerns were based on various media reports over recent months and not just the one TV episode.

State Government map showing the rollout plan for EV charge stations.

A council officer said councils across regional Queensland have been struggling to attract private investment in new charge stations regarding costs currently associated with “unviable” electricity tariffs.

However, she said council was currently in positive negotiations with a charge station supplier and Ergon Energy about a power tariff which would be acceptable to both parties.

There was no time limit associated with the council motion to delay advancement of charge stations.

Originally published as Media reports’ spark mayor’s “kneejerk” action to suspend installation of EV charge stations