General News
7 December, 2023
MP fears cuts to road safety will risk lives
MEMBER for LOWAN Emma Kealy has hit out the state of roads across Victoria, stating cuts to road safety programs were putting lives at risk at a time when the road toll has dramatically increased.
Ms Kealy said a Parliamentary Inquiry had heard the Victorian Government had cut $230 million from road safety programs over the past two years, and had failed to meet on its own targets to fix the road network.
Evidence tendered to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee revealed $150 million was cut from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) funded Safer System Road Infrastructure Program.
The marketing and road safety spend of TAC also fell $81 million short of its budget in the past two financial years.
Ms Kealy said it was further revealed the road pavement resurfacing and rehabilitation was also 30 per cent below the government's target at a time when road deaths were 20 per cent higher than last year.
“There is no doubt that the appalling state of our roads is due to Labor's road safety cuts and a 45 per cent reduction in road maintenance spending since 2020,” she said.
“This is endangering lives, especially those traveling in regional areas.
“Premier Jacinta Allan can't manage money, can't manage projects and is failing to fix our roads.
“Our roads are in a dire state and the Government admits it's not keeping up, yet it refuses to provide the funding needed to fix up the mess.”
Ms Kealy said the rising road toll highlighted the need for greater road safety and management.
“The fact that they have cut road safety funding at a time when our road toll is rising alarmingly is also a serious concern,” she said.
“We have more lives being lost on our roads, we have thousands of motorists experiencing vehicle damage annually due to potholes and dodgy roads and yet Labor continues to cut road funding.
“Labor is on a road to nowhere and must immediately reverse their cruel cuts to the roads budget, fix our country roads and make them safe.”
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