An intense argument almost escalated into a physical confrontation between a Channel 7 journalist and an influential figure in the electric vehicle (EV) industry during a media event attended by Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen.
During a recent episode of Spotlight, journalist Liam Bartlett reported on the detrimental impact of ‘dirty’ nickel mining conducted by Chinese-owned companies in Indonesia, highlighting the severe environmental pollution caused by these activities.
The nickel extracted from such mining operations is primarily used in the production of EVs, which are often heralded as a more eco-friendly option compared to traditional petrol vehicles. However, Bartlett raised concerns over the dangerous working conditions in Indonesian mines, pointing out that these practices not only endanger workers’ lives but also undermine the ‘clean’ nickel production processes in Australia.
Bartlett confronted Mr Bowen at a recent EV expo and bombarded him with questions about a 2024 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Australia and Indonesia ‘to work together on mapping EV supply chains, improving environmental and social governance’.
After getting very few answers from Mr Bowen, EV influencer Sam Evans – known online as the ‘Electric Viking’ intervened by bringing an abrupt end to the press opportunity before blocking Bartlett’s path as the minister fled towards the exit.
‘Hey mate, I don’t appreciate that,’ a furious Bartlett told Evans. ‘I’m talking to a minister of the crown.’
The Spotlight star appeared to not know who Evans was and demanded answers from another man who stepped in to try and the calm the situation.
‘Who is this guy … who is he to step between the media and a minister of the crown?’ Bartlett asked.
Evans hit back: ‘Do you think you’re going to get anywhere by doing that?’
Bartlett and Evans jabbed fingers and squared up to each other during the heated exchange while repeatedly accusing each other of getting in each other’s faces.
‘Get out of my face pal,’ a fired up Bartlett asked.
‘You got in my face, you wanna do it on camera?
‘You wanna do it on camera, you really wanna do this?’
Just when the confrontation looked like it may escalate into blows, Evans, who has almost 300,000 YouTube subscribers, eventually walked away.
Having subsequently looked into who he was, Bartlett explained that Evans calls himself the Electric Viking who is ‘a self-styled EV zealot who backs the Chinese industry’.
Spotlight then played a YouTube clip of Evans saying ‘automakers and governments are clearly very afraid of Chinese EVs’.
‘I’ve just been in China, the cars there are far superior, Evans explained.
Bartlett commented that Evans ‘clearly has a major issue with anyone who doubts his version of the green dream’, adding that Mr Bowen has since refused all requests for a formal interview.
Industry minister Ed Husic also declined to be interviewed, despite celebrating the signing of a special agreement with Indonesia on nickel mining, less than two years earlier.
When the MOU was signed on August 9 last, Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia Penny Williams said the two countries ‘are partners in the clean energy transition and we have a shared interest in growing diverse clean energy supply chains’.
The MOU followed an agreement between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and then Indonesian President Joko Widodo ‘to advance cooperation on the EV ecosystem’.
The Australian Government committed $2million in funding for conducting joint EV project research, including on transport decarbonisation and battery recycling.
Mr Bowen appeared stony-faced as he was grilled about the MOU at the recent expo with Bartlett telling him that he didn’t see any mutual benefits or cooperation.
‘Well, obviously there’s nothing wrong with mutually beneficial cooperation if you can achieve it,’ Mr Bowen replied.
‘Now, there’s a new government in Indonesia, we will work with them as best we can, to ensure that any developments are in our mutual best interests.’
Bartlett tried to push him for a more concrete answer, asking ‘what does the memorandum of understanding mean?’
‘Well, there’s a range of memorandums of understanding with different countries which will apply in different ways,’ Mr Bowen replied.
‘If it’s not in Australia’s best interest at any particular time, then nothing would happen under the MOU.’
He then dismissed further questions from Bartlett after the press opportunity wrapped up.
‘I’ve just given you a very good go Liam,’ Mr Bowen said as he headed off to leave.
Battery-powered vehicles had just 5.9 per cent of the Australian car market in February, dropping from 9.6 per cent 12 months earlier.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries figures included EVs sold by Tesla and Chinese-owned Polestar, using sales data supplied to the Electric Vehicle Council.
They showed Tesla Model 3 purchases fell more than 80 per cent in a year, while sales of the Model Y more than halved ahead of its upcoming update.
Polestar sales have also plummeted by two-thirds compared with 2024.
