SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LEADER OF THE NATIONALS IN THE SENATE
TONY PASIN MP
MEMBER FOR BARKER
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT
- 1,259 road deaths during 2023, a 6.7% increase on previous year
- Australia experienced its highest national road toll in seven years – since 2016 (1,294 fatalities)
- MYEFO shows no additional Black Spot road safety funding for four years under Labor
At a time when more Australians are tragically dying on our roads, the Albanese Government has been caught out lying about funding for the Commonwealth’s “cornerstone” road safety program, with MYEFO exposing no extra money will be allocated to fix road accident Black Spots for another four years.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the Labor Party has been exposed in a shameful attempt to claim credit for imaginary road safety funding in a cynical attempt to distract from rising fatalities on our roads throughout the Government’s term in office.
“Following Labor’s response to the 90-day infrastructure review, the Transport Minister claimed the government would provide extra funding for Black Spots phased in over the next four years, but the Mid-Year Economic update has shown these claims to be false, with no new money being provided until 2027-28,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Far too many families are losing loved ones on our roads at the same time the Albanese Government has cut road funding and failed to assist councils with the costs of fixing potholes in their first 18 months.
“State and territory data shows 1,259 Australians died on our roads during 2023, a 6.7 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.
“Australia experienced its highest national road toll in seven years at a time when Labor has failed to deliver funding to fix critical road safety black spots.”
Senator McKenzie said the Government needs to take real action to improve road safety instead of cutting funds and treating the rising road toll as a political problem to be managed with hollow media stunts and spin.
“The Government should immediately provide extra funding to help councils fix potholes and repair crumbling roads, as well as joining the Coalition and the Australian Automobile Association in committing to mandate national reporting of road safety data as a condition of federal road funding,” Senator McKenzie said.
In its first 19 months, Labor has:
- stripped $69 million from the Black Spot road safety program in 2022-23
- under-spent the Black Spot program by at least $16 million in 2023-24
- abolished the Keys2Drive, Amy Gillet Foundation, Road Safety Innovation Fund and the Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund;
- abolished the Roads of Strategic Importance program to upgrade secondary freight routes
- announced abolition of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program; and
- discontinued the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.
Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tony Pasin said now was not the time for reduced investment into the road network.
“My home State of South Australia has experienced a devastating year on the roads with a 65 per cent increase in fatalities in 2023. The month of December alone has seen a 50 per cent increase on the fatalities of December 2022,” Mr Pasin said.
“After a decade of watching Australia’s road toll decline the sharp increase in road trauma should put investment in our road network and collection and reporting of road safety data front and centre of Albanese’s infrastructure objectives. Instead, the Labor Government is asleep at the wheel.”
“The families of the 1,259 people who have lost their lives in the past 12 months don’t want tricky accounting and spin. They want action on road safety initiatives,” Mr Pasin said.
Catherine King MP, media release, 19 November 2023:
“Black Spot funding will increase from the current annual commitment of $110 million to $150 million per year. … the increases in funding will be phased in over the forward estimates …”
MYEFO (page 280):
- An additional $228.8 million over nine years from 2024-25 for the Black Spot Program, bringing total funding to $1.5 billion over ten years from 2023-24.
Road Black Spot program funding 2023-24 to 2032-33 ($m)
| 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 | 2031-32 | 2032-33 | Total | |
| Current profile | 120.1 | 120.1 | 120.1 | 120.1 | 120.1 | 110 | 110 | 110 | 110 | 110 | 1150.5 |
| New profile | 120.1 | 120.1 | 120.1 | 120.1 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 1380.4 |
| Additional funding | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29.9 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 229.9 |
Sources:
- ‘Current profile’ sourced from Budget 2023-24 Budget Paper 3, page 61 for 2023-24 to 2026-27 years, Budget 2023-24 Budget Paper 2, page 172 for 2032-33 year and for the remaining years beyond the forward estimates at $110 million p.a. as per public statements from Minister King and the Infrastructure Department infrastructure.gov.au
- ‘New profile’ calculated from Minister King statement funding levels will be $150 million p.a. at end of forward estimates and in accordance with disclosures in Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2023-24, page 280.