The Albanese Labor government needs to stop funding the Suburban Rail Loop (SLR) in Melbourne and redirect the funding to Victorian country roads.
Recent statistics provided by the Traffic Accident Commission reveal the potential danger that the decline in our rural roads poses to road users. From 1 January through to 10 November this year, 245 lives were lost on Victorian roads. More than half of these fatalities occurred on rural roads despite Melbourne accounting for 75% of Victoria’s population.
The Albanese Labor government has committed $2.2 billion to the Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop. This is a complete waste of money as the Suburban Rail Loop is unaffordable. This money should go to our country roads.
The Victorian State Government is broke and the first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop alone is now forecast to cost $40 billion, with the total project estimated to cost a staggering $220 billion. Net debt in Victoria is forecast to hit $184 billion in 2028. Common sense tells you we cannot afford the Suburban Rail Loop.
The Albanese Labor government has already cut, cancelled or delayed nearly $30 billion of road and rail funding, as set out in its 2024 budget. In doing so it is contributing to the national road network falling into disrepair.
Locally it has cut maintenance funding for the Princes Highway and the Western Highway and this is on top of the Victorian State government cutting maintenance funding for Victorian roads by 95%.
Five people have sadly lost their lives in the last couple of weeks on south-west Victorian roads. While not all road fatalities are caused by the condition of the roads, it is a direct cause or contributing factor in some cases.
No risk to life resulting from poorly maintained roads is necessary or acceptable. It is why the Suburban Rail Loop must be stopped and the $2.2 billion saved put into our country roads.
On Monday I will be putting forward a motion in Federal Parliament officially calling on the Albanese Labor Government not to fund the SLR and I will be launching a state-wide petition.
ENDS
