The nation’s road toll continues to rise with the latest monthly statistical report of the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics showing that 112 road deaths occurred during the month of October 2024.
Australia’s road toll continues to track in the wrong direction, with the annual fatality rate per 100,000 head of population now sitting at 4.8, well over double the National Road Safety target of 2.0.
Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tony Pasin MP said the continual rise in road fatalities reiterates the need for national leadership on the road safety crisis facing the nation.
“Monthly figures continue to tell us that we are well off track to achieving National Road Safety Strategy targets,” Mr Pasin said.
“It is incredibly important that Government funded road safety initiatives and infrastructure funding is being directed where needed. Labor is failing Australians on road safety as the road toll has continued to rise month after month over the past two years,” Mr Pasin said.
The road safety task is being made more difficult by the Albanese Government’s decision to cancel, cut and delay more than $27.9 billion in infrastructure funding over its first two years in government.
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said that roads throughout the electorate of Wannon aren’t receiving the maintenance and upgrades they need, and the impacts of Federal Government funding cuts are being felt by road users firsthand.
“Road users in Wannon have been raising serious concerns about the local road network, specifically about the dangerous Eurambeen-Streatham Road Glenelg Highway intersection where there have been four fatalities and numerous serious accidents in the last five years, and the roads around Warrnambool and Port Fairy where there have been five fatalities in the last month alone.
“That’s why I’ve started a petition, calling on the Albanese Labor Government to redirect the $2.2 billion it has committed to Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop to funding rural Victoria’s crumbling road network,” Mr Tehan said.
“I encourage residents to sign the petition on www.dantehan.com.au and urge the Albanese Labor Government to invest in our roads.”
