The Albanese Government’s scrapping of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP) (HVSPP) will mean roads are less safe and cost of living will increase.
Labor’s decision to axe the HVSPP follows significant funding cuts to the region in the infrastructure review, putting the safety of truck drivers and reducing freight productivity.
Federal Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton has slammed the decision, saying this was another cut to road funding in regional communities.
“Our roads are the arteries to driving national economic growth and prosperity, we rely on roads to get from A to B safely, to move food and fibre from paddock to plate and get our critical exports to port.
“This Labor government should wake up to their attacks on wealth producing regions, not a lot of our food or minerals come from the inner city,” Mr Hamilton said.
The Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program was created as a specific grant program to support the productivity and safety of truck drivers by funding rest areas, overtaking lanes, and technology trials.
The program has funded a number of projects in Groom, including upgrades on Bowenville-Moola Road, Bowenville and Gap Road, Pittsworth
“Bad roads mean bad outcomes for road users and the economy, this will pull the handbrake on industry productivity and the ability to move goods safely and efficiently.
“Anthony Albanese claimed he would be an infrastructure prime minister, yet his Government’s cuts highlight Labor’s failure to understand the critical role of our road network.
“The Government did not consult with the trucking industry before taking the decision to scrap this program.
“The Labor Government has failed to guarantee our trucking industry will not be left worse off as a result of these changes.”
