Federal Labor’s cuts to road projects require immediate further scrutiny as three recent fatal road accidents are found to have occurred on roads and highways the Albanese Government has cut and deferred funding.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said state safety data should inform road decisions on for delays and the cancelling of road projects.
“The Coalition have been calling for greater transparency on the outcomes of the Independent Strategic Review of the Infrastructure Investment Program. Sadly, recent tragic accidents have further highlighted the need for transparency on the decision making of the nation’s road and rail network,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Recent serious accidents beg the question of what road safety assessments were undertaken by the Government before they made the decision to cut and defer funding for these projects?
“Something the Albanese Government can do immediately to demonstrate their commitment to road safety is compel state and territory governments to provide road safety data relating to road quality, crash causation and law enforcement.”
While the confirmed official road toll data is yet to be released, with more than 1,250 fatalities 2023 has been the deadliest year on our roads since 2016.
Road fatalities increased by 6.1 per cent nationally in 2023, with the greatest increases experienced in South Australia (64.8 per cent), New South Wales (24.2 per cent) and Victoria (23.3 per cent).
“With the worsening road toll, it is more important than ever the Albanese Government consider the safety imperatives of specific roads when making decisions to cut or delay funding to specific projects,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Australians want to have confidence their government is properly informed, genuine and proactive in their efforts to make roads safer.”
Over its first 18 months the Albanese Labor Government has cut funding to the critical road safety Black Spots program, with funding grants announced by the Minister falling well short of what was invested in the budget by the former Coalition Government, with at least $16 million left unspent across Australia this year.
Fast Facts:
- With at least 1,252 road fatalities for 2023, Australia experienced its highest national road toll in seven years – since 2016 (1,294 fatalities).
- In the October 2022 Budget the Albanese Labor Government cut funding for Barrier Highway upgrades project by $2 million in the 2023-24 year. Under the former Coalition Government this $62 million road safety upgrade project from Burra to Cockburn was set to commence in 2022, but according to the South Australian Government, works for the project are not scheduled to commence until March 2024.
- In the October 2022 budget the Albanese Labor Government cancelled a $30 million Coalition commitment to deliver targeted upgrades along Pialligo Avenue to improve road safety from Queanbeyan to Canberra International Airport.
- In November 2023, $2 billion in funding for upgrades to the Great Western Highway were cancelled by the Albanese Labor Government following its ‘90-day’ infrastructure review.