Where do Victorian councils sit on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament? - ABC News

So far, none of Victoria's local councils are endorsing a No vote in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum and the majority are staying neutral. (ABC News: Shane Willner-Browne)

About one in five Victorian councils have endorsed a Yes vote at the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, but the majority have taken a neutral position ahead of the national poll.

The ABC asked councils across the state their position on the upcoming referendum, the date of which is set to be announced today.

None of the Victorian councils indicated they would be backing a No vote, however some said they were still waiting for advice before deciding whether to endorse a position.

While not every council provided a reason, all 79 local governments were able to indicate their general stance on the upcoming vote, with some suggesting it might still change.

You can find out your local council's position by searching in the table below. (If you don't know what local council area you live in, find out by searching your address, suburb or postcode here.)

Victorian councils backing Yes concentrated in Greater Melbourne

Twelve of the 16 councils who have endorsed a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum are within Greater Melbourne, including a cluster of neighbouring councils in the city's south-east like Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston, Monash and Greater Dandenong.

The City of Melbourne, as well as a handful of councils across the north and western suburbs, including Merri-bek, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank and Moonee Valley, have also endorsed a Yes position.

Greater Shepparton, Greater Bendigo, the Hepburn Shire council in central Victoria (Daylesford and Hepburn Springs) and the Surf Coast Shire (including Torquay and Lorne on Victoria's south-western coastline) are among the state's regional councils backing a Yes vote.

Meanwhile, 63 councils said they would take a neutral stance.

Some councils which had publicly expressed commitment towards the Uluru Statement from the Heart — the 2017 document containing the call for a First Nations Voice to be enshrined in the constitution — have also opted to take a neutral position.

Not all councils who support the Uluru statement are backing a 'Yes' vote in the referendum.(supplied)

That includes Greater Geelong, Strathbogie Shire and Banyule City Council.

Banyule mayor Peter Castaldo said while his council believed a "Voice is essential", the council would not take a Yes or No position on the referendum and would prioritise community engagement about the vote instead.

Merri-bek council criticised for backing Yes campaign against First Nations advice

Merri-bek City Council (formerly known as Moreland), which takes in suburbs in Melbourne's progressive inner-north, including Brunswick and Coburg, is another council with a complex position.

In July, the council voted in favour of allocating $5,000 to print materials in support of the Yes campaign.

But the move disappointed the council's own First Nations Committee, which in February advised the council not to take a Yes or No position during the referendum due to the diversity of views within the community.

"We find it hypocritical that Council failed to listen to your own First Nations Advisory Committee when you resolved to support a Voice to Parliament," co-chair of Merri-bek First Nations Advisory Committee, Kim Kruger, told a council meeting earlier this month.

In response to the criticism, the council passed an amended motion allocating a further $18,000 towards a community education campaign around the Voice to Parliament and has since adopted more neutral language about its role in the referendum.

Merri-bek council, which takes in Brunswick in Melbourne's inner-north, has softened its 'Yes' position after community criticism.(AAP: Julian Smith)

Merri-bek councillor Sue Bolton said the council still essentially has a 'Yes' position courtesy of its July decision and its pre-existing commitment to the Uluru statement.

"They've already produced the banners to go on council buildings … but they won't be doing any more of that."

She said the council will focus on moving from an "explicit" Yes position to one that promotes a diverse range of First Nations views.

There are no current Merri-bek councillors who identify as First Nations — which is the case for the vast majority of Victoria's councils, who often rely on advisory groups. 

Out of 641 local councillors statewide, ABC News was only able to to identify three (0.5 per cent) who have publicly identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

One per cent of Victoria's general population identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in the 2021 census.

It's getting more common for councils to weigh in on national debates

Weighing in on the national conversation around the Voice falls outside the typical "roads, rates and rubbish" remit of local governments, but in recent years councils across the country have been weighing in on issues like climate change  and the date of Australia Day.

Sociologist Rachel Busbridge says some councils are wary of creating division in their communities.(Supplied: Rachel Busbridge)

Australian Catholic University sociology lecturer Rachel Busbridge said it was not surprising to see some councils divided over what position to take in the lead up to the referendum.

"The reality is that there's still a bit of a split in councils as to whether they think they should be engaging on these types of big issues, so it's not surprising that the numbers are fairly low in terms of councils who are support of the Yes vote," Dr Busbridge said.

But she said it was becoming more common overall for local governments to take stances on national issues, with state and federal governments asking local councils to take on more duties over the last few decades.

In July, federal Minister for Local Government, Kristy McBain, wrote to councils across Australia asking them to communicate with their communities about the upcoming vote.

As a comparison, while it was not a referendum – the 2017 postal survey on same-sex marriage was another national debate where some councils picked a side.

A number of Victorian councils who pushed for a Yes vote in the marriage equality postal survey are now taking a neutral stance during the Voice referendum, including the City of Stonnington, the Shire of Campaspe, City of Port Phillip and Shire of Macedon ranges.

Dr Busbridge said it was mostly progressive councils which lent their support to marriage equality during the survey, which does not necessarily translate to the Voice debate.

Local councils around Australia have been targeted for hosting events like drag story time. (ABC News: Cason Ho)

"But what we're actually seeing with the debate over the voice is that there's a split in the progressive vote, so there's a progressive Yes and a progressive No," she said.

She also said some local councils have been targeted by far-right groups on LGBTQIA+ issues like drag story time, which might be a further factor in councils choosing to remain neutral.

"With the Voice, it may be the case that they kind of choose to be neutral on issues that could cause conflict or division in their communities."

Dr Rachel Busbridge said it was unclear how often councils actually influence how residents vote – but said they were an important place for those discussions to take place.

"Local councils are places where people discuss politics and political issues … and I think that's a really good thing."

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Radical Rituals: Studio forty five degrees Searches for Local Space-Making Practices Across Europe - ArchDaily

Radical Rituals: Studio forty five degrees Searches for Local Space-Making Practices Across Europe

Cantercel, France, 2022. Image Courtesy of forty five degrees

When talking about space-making practices, architects and urban planners are usually thinking about participatory planning and collaborative processes, often overlooking the ways in which the communities themselves can become their own agents of change. As the people poses an intimate knowledge of not only their environment, but also of social and cultural norms, the needs of their communities and latent opportunities within their surroundings, they are often the ones initiating actions, supporting their peers and contributing positively to their locality. Research-focused office forty five degrees set out to explore these grass-roots initiatives, to meet the locals and gather their stories in an effort to gain a better understanding of the complex and diverse cultural territories across Europe. Their journey, organized under the “Radical Rituals” project, follows the 45°N parallel line that transverses Europe from East to West. The office has been selected as part of ArchDaily's 2023 New Practices, an annual survey aimed at showcasing those who adress the ever-growing challanges of our times and take architecture to new directions.

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The forty five degrees studio was founded in 2019 with the aim of investigating the built environment through research, design and artistic experimentation. Their activities and initiatives revolve around the central theme of ‘commons,’ understood as the lands and resources belonging to the whole of a community. Through this lens, they gather protocols and collective approaches and explore alternative ways of living and city-making models as well as novel forms of urban development. The studio, founded by AlkistisThomidou, Berta Gutiérrez and Giulia Domeniconi, collaborates with local experts, cultural institutions and creative agencies to expand the scope of research.

Map of the 45°N parallel crossing Europe. Image Courtesy of forty five degrees

One of their main ventures is the ongoing exploration titled ‘Radical Rituals.’ This is an itinerary survey that follows the 45°N parallel to discover and gather spatial practices and vernacular rituals that strengthen the commons across Europe. The team travels to locations along this imaginary line to immerse themselves into the cultural landscape and to meet the locals who are initiating actions to address various issues faced by their communities. In many instances, these challenges mirror global concerns, yet the most effective answers are tailored to the specific local conditions.  

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Our interest is in how space can be built otherwise, and that necessarily includes communities. – Berta Gutierrez, forty five degrees

Statia de Cercetare, Romania, 2021. Image Courtesy of forty five degrees

The title of the project reflects the complex condition of these alternative practices. In typical architectural processes, spatial production is understood as a linear process, with a definite beginning and an end marked by the completion of the object. In contrast, the self-initiated practices explored by forty five degrees are circular, similar to the idea of rituals, but understood in a social rather than spiritual sense. These rituals are aimed at creating and maintaining various structures by applying protocols and creating spaces that are relevant to their aspirational goals. Without written rules, people collectively gather under the same understanding of their needs, and engage collectively in place-making practices.

The radical aspect comes from an idea initiated in the 1970s, a significant moment in design history when the industry sought to challenge the preconceived ideas of who a designer can be, explore alternative forms of practice and understand the process as an emancipatory one, empowering people to get involved in the modeling of their environment. Similarly, these practices are primarily based on the intrinsic knowledge of the local communities, working together toward a shared goal, but based on cyclical actions, not a hierarchical structure to dictate the activities. Reflecting this, the methodology of research employed by forty five degrees is more experimental than dogmatic, favoring interactions and active listening as the main sources of information.

Viel Audon, France, 2022.. Image Courtesy of forty five degrees

The first chapter of the research took place during the summer of 2021 in the context of Romania. The journey explored varied geographies, from the East to West, trying to gain a situated understanding of people’s relationship with their surroundings. Through this exploration, carried out on-site by Alkistis Thomidou and Berta Gutierrez, a few overarching themes emerged, like the strong connection of most communities with water. Within this shared element, the approaches varied significantly.

Danube Delta, Romania, 2021. Image Courtesy of forty five degrees

Towards the eastern side of the country, in the Danube Delta opening up toward the Black Sea, efforts were carried out by individuals to help protect the expansive yet fragile ecosystem of the Delta. In the more western city of Cluj-Napoca, the accent was put on the social aspect involved in the connection to the river Someș, with groups of students and the larger community creating small temporary structures along the river to encourage citizens to rediscover the waterscape as a valuable public space.

Border between Italy and France. France, 2022. Image Courtesy of forty five degrees

The second phase of the research, conducted in the summer of 2022 in France, revealed new variations in space-making practices. While similar concerns emerged, like the important relationship with water, other values also painted a site-specific image of the local context, with more focus on activism, and political engagement, but also alternative pedagogies and involvement through learning practices. By using the 45°N parallel as an excuse for exploration, the team aims not to accentuate the dichotomies between regions, but to expand the understanding of what space-making practices can look like. The team aims to continue this iteration with an exploration of northern Italy next, to be followed by more journeys to Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Participation is often one of the strategies to involve communities, but there should be many others to enable practices that are not yet part of the global regulations. Thus, they have the great potential to inform our spatial culture and practice - Berta Gutierrez, forty five degrees

Radical Rituals book presentation, Berlin, 2022. Image Courtesy of forty five degrees

The findings of the research are materialized in travel-sized booklets that feature the local practices with their activities and methods. To add another layer of context, forty five degrees collaborates with local experts and researchers who contribute with essays and nuanced analyses of the cultural background. In this way, the office acts more as a curator of ideas and initiatives, collecting and giving a voice to every actor involved. The end result aims to be accessible to all interested in social, cultural and space-creating activities. The team aims to further develop this project through the medium of exhibitions and other community-involving activities.

Briançon. France, 2022. Image Courtesy of forty five degrees

Along with this project, the forty five degrees studio also carries out multiple projects and collaborations, all concerned with the idea of commonality. One other example is ‘The Studio,’ a practice-based project aimed at providing a space for creativity and collaboration for the Erasmus+ Youth in Action program. The project, which culminated in a public publication, was developed with design studios from Oslo, Paris and Berlin, all coming together to share knowledge around common values on eco-design, learning, and inclusion of youth in creative processes. Other projects include the ’30 years KW,’ an exercise in third space formation, ‘SpaceKraft,’ an experiment based on ‘learn-by-doing’ principles, and ‘Oslo in Action(s),’ an ongoing research project highlighting the diverse city-makers of Oslo and the networks the form and take part in.

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Where do Victorian councils sit on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament? - ABC News

So far, none of Victoria's local councils are endorsing a No vote in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum and the majority are staying neutral. (ABC News: Shane Willner-Browne)

About one in five Victorian councils have endorsed a Yes vote at the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, but the majority have taken a neutral position ahead of the national poll.

The ABC asked councils across the state their position on the upcoming referendum, the date of which is set to be announced today.

None of the Victorian councils indicated they would be backing a No vote, however some said they were still waiting for advice before deciding whether to endorse a position.

While not every council provided a reason, all 79 local governments were able to indicate their general stance on the upcoming vote, with some suggesting it might still change.

You can find out your local council's position by searching in the table below. (If you don't know what local council area you live in, find out by searching your address, suburb or postcode here.)

Victorian councils backing Yes concentrated in Greater Melbourne

Twelve of the 16 councils who have endorsed a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum are within Greater Melbourne, including a cluster of neighbouring councils in the city's south-east like Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston, Monash and Greater Dandenong.

The City of Melbourne, as well as a handful of councils across the north and western suburbs, including Merri-bek, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank and Moonee Valley, have also endorsed a Yes position.

Greater Shepparton, Greater Bendigo, the Hepburn Shire council in central Victoria (Daylesford and Hepburn Springs) and the Surf Coast Shire (including Torquay and Lorne on Victoria's south-western coastline) are among the state's regional councils backing a Yes vote.

Meanwhile, 63 councils said they would take a neutral stance.

Some councils which had publicly expressed commitment towards the Uluru Statement from the Heart — the 2017 document containing the call for a First Nations Voice to be enshrined in the constitution — have also opted to take a neutral position.

Not all councils who support the Uluru statement are backing a 'Yes' vote in the referendum.(supplied)

That includes Greater Geelong, Strathbogie Shire and Banyule City Council.

Banyule mayor Peter Castaldo said while his council believed a "Voice is essential", the council would not take a Yes or No position on the referendum and would prioritise community engagement about the vote instead.

Merri-bek council criticised for backing Yes campaign against First Nations advice

Merri-bek City Council (formerly known as Moreland), which takes in suburbs in Melbourne's progressive inner-north, including Brunswick and Coburg, is another council with a complex position.

In July, the council voted in favour of allocating $5,000 to print materials in support of the Yes campaign.

But the move disappointed the council's own First Nations Committee, which in February advised the council not to take a Yes or No position during the referendum due to the diversity of views within the community.

"We find it hypocritical that Council failed to listen to your own First Nations Advisory Committee when you resolved to support a Voice to Parliament," co-chair of Merri-bek First Nations Advisory Committee, Kim Kruger, told a council meeting earlier this month.

In response to the criticism, the council passed an amended motion allocating a further $18,000 towards a community education campaign around the Voice to Parliament and has since adopted more neutral language about its role in the referendum.

Merri-bek council, which takes in Brunswick in Melbourne's inner-north, has softened its 'Yes' position after community criticism.(AAP: Julian Smith)

Merri-bek councillor Sue Bolton said the council still essentially has a 'Yes' position courtesy of its July decision and its pre-existing commitment to the Uluru statement.

"They've already produced the banners to go on council buildings … but they won't be doing any more of that."

She said the council will focus on moving from an "explicit" Yes position to one that promotes a diverse range of First Nations views.

There are no current Merri-bek councillors who identify as First Nations — which is the case for the vast majority of Victoria's councils, who often rely on advisory groups. 

Out of 641 local councillors statewide, ABC News was only able to to identify three (0.5 per cent) who have publicly identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

One per cent of Victoria's general population identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in the 2021 census.

It's getting more common for councils to weigh in on national debates

Weighing in on the national conversation around the Voice falls outside the typical "roads, rates and rubbish" remit of local governments, but in recent years councils across the country have been weighing in on issues like climate change  and the date of Australia Day.

Sociologist Rachel Busbridge says some councils are wary of creating division in their communities.(Supplied: Rachel Busbridge)

Australian Catholic University sociology lecturer Rachel Busbridge said it was not surprising to see some councils divided over what position to take in the lead up to the referendum.

"The reality is that there's still a bit of a split in councils as to whether they think they should be engaging on these types of big issues, so it's not surprising that the numbers are fairly low in terms of councils who are support of the Yes vote," Dr Busbridge said.

But she said it was becoming more common overall for local governments to take stances on national issues, with state and federal governments asking local councils to take on more duties over the last few decades.

In July, federal Minister for Local Government, Kristy McBain, wrote to councils across Australia asking them to communicate with their communities about the upcoming vote.

As a comparison, while it was not a referendum – the 2017 postal survey on same-sex marriage was another national debate where some councils picked a side.

A number of Victorian councils who pushed for a Yes vote in the marriage equality postal survey are now taking a neutral stance during the Voice referendum, including the City of Stonnington, the Shire of Campaspe, City of Port Phillip and Shire of Macedon ranges.

Dr Busbridge said it was mostly progressive councils which lent their support to marriage equality during the survey, which does not necessarily translate to the Voice debate.

Local councils around Australia have been targeted for hosting events like drag story time. (ABC News: Cason Ho)

"But what we're actually seeing with the debate over the voice is that there's a split in the progressive vote, so there's a progressive Yes and a progressive No," she said.

She also said some local councils have been targeted by far-right groups on LGBTQIA+ issues like drag story time, which might be a further factor in councils choosing to remain neutral.

"With the Voice, it may be the case that they kind of choose to be neutral on issues that could cause conflict or division in their communities."

Dr Rachel Busbridge said it was unclear how often councils actually influence how residents vote – but said they were an important place for those discussions to take place.

"Local councils are places where people discuss politics and political issues … and I think that's a really good thing."

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New Zealand: bill to allow under-18s to vote in local elections passes first hurdle - The Guardian

A bill that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote and stand as candidates in New Zealand’s local elections has passed its first reading in parliament, nine months after a landmark ruling by the country’s supreme court that the existing age of 18 was inconsistent with human rights law.

The measure passed its first hurdle on Tuesday by 74 votes to 44, supported by all leftwing lawmakers, with the rightwing opposition parties rejecting it. However, the proposal could face a steep uphill battle to pass its final legislative hurdles, and it would not extend voting rights to under-18s in national elections as urged by the young campaigners who brought the supreme court case.

If the law was approved, New Zealand would join a handful of countries – including Scotland, Wales, Argentina, Austria and Cuba – in allowing those as young as 16 to vote in some or all elections. In some cases, change has been prompted by youth campaigns for a greater say on issues affecting young people’s long-term futures, such as the climate crisis.

“It’s about who our democracy should be for, whose voices should be represented on the national and local stage when we make decisions about Aotearoa New Zealand’s future,” said Arena Williams, a Labour party lawmaker, said in a speech to parliament in support of the change on Tuesday. “Issues like climate change mitigation and adaptation … Issues like whether our economy delivers for everyone.”

Sage Garrett, 17, a co-director of the Make it 16 campaign, said his group was “ecstatic” to see the bill pass its first reading, although he was disappointed that the measure, if approved, would not take effect until 2028.

Garrett also decried the “awkward” timing of the bill, which was introduced during the last sitting week of New Zealand’s parliament before it dissolves ahead of a national election. The bill must be approved three times before it becomes law, and its second reading will not occur until after October’s vote.

If the centre-right National party forms a government after the election, toppling Labour, advocates for the change would have to convince those who opposed the measure on Tuesday to reverse their position.

“We understand that politicians are perfectly able to change their mind,” Garrett said. “And because all of the evidence is in our favour, we know that that’s the best thing for all politicians to do.”

Paul Goldsmith, a National party lawmaker opposing the bill, said in a speech to parliament in Wellington that age-based rights and limits varied on other matters in New Zealand. “There’ll be some 16-year-olds who are fantastically interested in politics and fully equipped, I have no criticisms of the ability of some 16-year-olds to vote,” he said. “But you’ve got to go somewhere and that’s for parliament to decide.”

The supreme court ruling last November followed a two-year legal battle by Make it 16, and prompted New Zealand’s highest court to decide that barring 16- and 17-year-olds from voting was at odds with the Bill of Rights Act, which protects those aged 16 or older from discrimination on the basis of age. It was the first time the court had judged a law to be inconsistent with the rights espoused in the act. New Zealand’s then prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, pledged at the time that her government would draft legislation to amend the voting age.

The proposal presented on Tuesday did not seek to change the minimum age of 18 for voting in national elections – which the court had also ruled as unjustified discrimination. But the law governing the voting age nationally can only be amended by a referendum or the approval of a “super-majority” of 75% of New Zealand’s parliament, which the Labour-led government could not have produced.

“We can’t justify work on a bill that we know will not get the support it needs,” said Kieran McAnulty, the minister for local government, in a speech to parliament outlining the proposal. “Instead we’re focusing on local elections as part of our response to the court’s declaration.”

Garrett said lowering the age for local elections first would “open a window of opportunity for people to see just how successful it is for 16- and 17-year-olds to vote”. He added that many teenagers were particularly reliant on services provided by local councils, such as public transport and after-school venues.

“Not one of us would stand for a delay on our fundamental rights,” said Golriz Ghahraman, a Green party lawmaker, in her speech on Tuesday. “Sixteen-year-olds can leave school, they can have sex, they can drive cars, and yes, they can work and pay taxes without representation … We know that they’re ready.”

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Everybody facing Maningrida Local Court, Tuesday, August 29 - NT News

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Local 'Big Build' projects ramp up - Bay 93.9

Drivers could be in for commuter pain in coming months across Geelong.

The Victorian government is raming up its Big Build projects across the region over Spring.

That includes buses replacing trains on sections of the local train line as the rail duplication works continue between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds.

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Major upgrades to the two local stations will also be underway, including second platforms, pedestrian overpasses and ramps.

A rail bridge will also be lifted into place on the Surf Coast Highway, resulting in the road between closed between Baanip Boulevard and the level crossing in late September.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan advised passengers to check the Public Transport Victoria or Big Build websites before travelling.

“We continue to deliver projects like the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds duplication,” she said.

“..allowing us to provide more frequent and reliable services to growing regional communities.”

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Everybody facing Katherine Local Court, Monday, August 28 - NT News

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Mercedes announces pricing of five-seater EQE electric SUV ahead of local launch - The Driven

Mercedes-Benz has now announced the Australian pricing of its upcoming EQE family five-seater electric SUV. This release follows that of the EQE sedan which has been in the market since earlier this year.

The new EQE SUV will be offered in three variants:

• EQE 300 – starting at  $134,900 before on-road costs
• EQE 350 4Matic – starting at $144,900 before on-road costs
• AMG EQE 53 4Matic+ – starting at $189,900 before on-road costs

There is also a special limited launch fourth variant which Mercedes calls EQE 500 4Matic that will be offered locally. It will be priced from $164,900 before on-roads.

On the outside, the dimensions of the car stand at:

• 4,863 mm in length
• 1,940 mm in width
• 1,686 mm in height

The boot also has 520 litres of boot space with the seats up and 1675 litres with the second-row seats down.

Image: Mercedes-Benz

On the safety front, The EQE SUV comes with various safety features via the standard Driving Assistance Plus package, including:

• Attention Assist
• Active Brake Assist
• Active Lane Keeping Assist
• Parking Package with 360 degree reversing camera
• Speed Limit Assist
• Ten airbags are fitted and Impulse Side systems prepare the vehicle in the instance of an imminent collision.

Getting in on the inside, there is a simpler layout with a central display screen that comes with Mercedes-Benz’s own MBUX infotainment system.

Image: Mercedes-Benz

To keep the cabin climate at a comfortable temperature, the EQE SUV also includes a heat pump system which according to Mercedes recovers waste heat from the inverter and electric motors to efficiently deliver heat when needed.

The EQE SUV comes with two battery packs. The base pack has 89 kWh while the dual-motor variant comes with a 90.5 kWh battery pack. 

The base model EQE 300 comes with a single motor providing up to 180 kW and 550 Nm of torque. For the EQE 350, it is powered by a dual motor delivering 215 kW and 765 Nm. The top of the range AMG variant comes with 460 kW of power and 950 Nm of torque. It can do the 0-100 km/h sprint just 3.7 seconds, making it the fastest option.

Image: Mercedes-Benz

The larger pack helps the higher-end EQE 500 variant deliver up to 300 kW of power and 858 Nm of torque. This variant can also sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.

When it comes to charging the EQE battery packs can be fast-charged from 10 – 80% in 32 minutes using a 350 kW charger or under 90 minutes at a 50 kW DC fast charger.

The latest EQE SUV model is to go on sale in September.

Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.

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