A recent Parliamentary Inquiry has revealed the extent of Labor’s failures to manage our state’s roads, with the $230 million cut from road safety programs across the past two years leading the headlines.
Evidence tendered to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee showed that $150 million was cut from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) funded Safer System Road Infrastructure Program.
In another alarming revelation, the marketing and road safety spend of TAC also fell $81 million short of its budget in the past two financial years.
It was further revealed that road pavement resurfacing and rehabilitation was also 30 per cent below the Government’s target.
Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said the revelations come as Victoria faces another horror road toll, with road deaths 20 per cent higher than last year.
Ms Cleeland said Labor’s road safety cuts and a 45 per cent reduction in road maintenance spending since 2020 were endangering Victorian lives, especially those in regional Victoria.
“Regional Victorians don’t need an inquiry to tell them Labor has abandoned our crumbling roads. They see it every day,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Our regional roads are in an appalling state and a 45 per cent cut to the road maintenance budget since 2020, including a further 25 per cent cut in this year’s budget, is hurting Victorian motorists.
“We know our roads are in a dire state, yet this tired Labor Government is cutting road maintenance funding and falling short of its own road repair target. It beggars belief.
“Premier Jacinta Allan can’t manage money, can’t manage projects and is failing to fix our roads and keep our motorists safe.
“Labor is on a road to nowhere and must immediately reverse their cruel cuts to the roads budget, fix our country roads and make them safe.”
