The Albanese Labor Government’s plan to slash speed limits on rural roads in poor condition is an outrageous, lazy solution to a serious issue facing cars and trucks across the country.
Labor Minister 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 under her government.
This ‘solution’ will only halt regional productivity and not address one of the root causes of the problem - Labor’s cuts to abysmal road funding.
Federal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, has slammed the plan, calling it a lazy approach to road safety reform.
“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 Victorian State and Federal Labor Governments.”
“The solution to help make our rural roads safety is to maintain and upgrade 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 10 November 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. Government has an obligation to protect the lives of every Australian, so they should get on with it and fund rural roads.” Mr Tehan.
To make a submission, go to the ‘Have your Say’ section of the infrastructure.gov.au website.
Mr Tehan also encourages readers to continue to email photos of the roads in need of repair near them to dan.tehan.mp@aph.gov.au.
ENDS
Contact: Sandie Gustus M | 0408 564 232 E | sandie.gustus@aph.gov.au
