Council
7 November, 2025
Tehan slams proposed speed reduction
FEDERAL Member for Wannon Dan Tehan has called out the Albanese Government’s plan to slash speed limits on rural roads in poor condition as an “outrageous, lazy solution to a serious issue”.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King is proposing reducing speed limits on dirt, gravel or sealed roads in need of repair in response to the worsening national road toll.
Mr Tehan has slammed the plan, calling it a lazy approach to road safety reform.
He said he was concerned the proposal will only halt regional productivity and not address one of the root causes of the problem – Labor’s cuts to “abysmal” road funding.
“Across Wannon, poor road conditions remain the most prominent issue that locals are facing, with so many roads in desperate need of repair,” Mr Tehan said.
“Local councils and shires would love to upgrade their roads to a safe standard, but they simply can’t get all the necessary work done due to a lack of resources from the State and Federal Governments.
“The solution to help make our rural roads safe is to maintain, upgrade and improve the roads themselves, not to slow down regional productivity.”
Mr Tehan is urging local transport operators, small business, farmers and councils to make submissions to the Government’s consultation before the November 10 closing date about how their communities would be impacted by speed limit reductions on rural, regional and remote Australian roads.
“Regional Australia’s economy is on the line here,” he said.
“Government has an obligation to protect the lives of every Australian, so they should get on with it and fund rural roads.”
To make a submission, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/regulatory-impact-analysis-reduce-open-road-default-speed-limit.
Mr Tehan also encourages residents to continue to email photos of the roads in need of repair near them to dan.tehan.mp@aph.gov.au.
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