The Queensland Government has released a new QFleet Vehicle Emissions Reduction Strategy 2025–2030, marking a significant shift in its approach to fleet decarbonisation—and slowing the pace of electric vehicle (EV) adoption across government departments.
Under the previous Labor Government, QFleet was leading the charge towards zero-emission transport with a clear mandate to convert all eligible passenger vehicles to EVs by the end of 2026. That directive has now been removed.
In its place, the new Emissions Reduction (ER) Strategy aims for a more modest 10% reduction in tailpipe emissions across the entire QFleet leased fleet by June 2030. The focus is no longer on the number of EVs in the fleet but rather on overall fleet emissions, allowing greater flexibility in vehicle choices.
From an Accelerated EV Mandate to a Broader Emissions Focus
The new strategy, introduced by the Crisafulli Government, has explicitly replaced the previous QFleet Electric Vehicle Transition Strategy 2023–2026. The removal of the EV mandate reflects feedback from government agencies, particularly from regional Queensland, where the rollout of charging infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with vehicle procurement.
“This important shift away from a mandated electric vehicle (EV) transition to an emissions reduction approach means QFleet can now broaden its reporting scope to consider all QFleet vehicles including light commercial vehicles,” the strategy states.
The government says this change will provide a “more accurate account of its progress towards net zero emission targets,” and offer agencies greater freedom in vehicle selection—including hybrids and plug-in hybrids alongside EVs.
Key Targets and Timelines
The new strategy sets a target to reduce QFleet’s tailpipe emissions from 33.19 kilotonnes (kt) in June 2024 to 29.86 kt by June 2030—a 10% reduction. This will occur while the overall fleet is forecast to grow by around 1.5% annually.
Agencies will now be responsible for achieving their own emissions reduction targets. QFleet will work with each department to set these targets and monitor progress annually using the MyQFleet online reporting portal.
Importantly, the strategy encourages agencies to at least maintain current levels of EV adoption to “make best use of the significant investment in EV charging infrastructure they have undertaken.”
More Flexibility for Agencies
The strategy reflects a clear political and policy shift. Where the previous Labor Government viewed an accelerated EV transition as a priority, the new government has prioritised flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and agency choice.
“The Crisafulli Government is committed to ensuring QFleet reduces the emissions of its entire fleet whilst supporting the unique service delivery needs Queensland has as the nation’s most decentralised state,” said Sam O’Connor MP, Minister for Housing and Public Works.
The strategy notes that charging infrastructure remains a challenge. While more than 2,000 EVs are already in the QFleet fleet and over 800 EV chargers have been installed in Queensland Government buildings, deployment of infrastructure “takes significant time to procure, coordinate and gain all necessary approvals.”
Providing agencies with a longer transition window aims to allow time for this supporting infrastructure to catch up.
Implications for Fleet Managers
For Fleet Managers in Queensland Government departments, the shift brings both opportunity and challenge:
- There is now greater flexibility to select fit-for-purpose vehicles that balance emissions performance with operational needs.
- Agencies will be accountable for overall emissions, not simply EV quotas.
- The scope now includes light commercial vehicles, which were not covered under the previous EV-focused strategy.
- Fleet Managers must still plan carefully to optimise fleet utilisation, review vehicle mix, and align with both the new QFleet strategy and the national New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).
The strategy also encourages a range of emissions reduction tactics beyond vehicle selection—such as fleet optimisation, better journey planning, eco-driving, and fuel choice (e.g. using E10 in compatible ICE vehicles).
Slowing the Transition—But Still Moving Forward
While the new QFleet strategy arguably slows the pace of the electric transition compared to the previous government’s ambitions, it still positions the fleet on a pathway to emissions reduction in line with national policy trends.
The Queensland Government’s fleet decarbonisation journey will now be more pragmatic and measured—placing more responsibility on each agency to chart its own course.
For Fleet Managers, the message is clear: the transition to lower emissions remains on the agenda, but achieving it will now require more nuanced planning, stakeholder engagement, and fleet optimisation than simply swapping to EVs on a fixed timetable.
