The Albanese Government is now threatening critical local road projects by taking aim at a raft of longstanding programs.
Following Senate Estimates this week, it was revealed the Roads to Recovery program, Bridges Renewal Program, Black Spot Program and the Heavy Vehicle Safety & Productivity Program are all now at risk of being axed under Labor’s 90-day infrastructure pipeline review.
Federal Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton said it was a disturbing revelation that funding from these programs could be cut, as it had supported projects to improve road safety and bust congestion.
“What we have under Labor is another broken promise, the Prime Minister said he would be an ‘infrastructure Prime Minister’, yet they are threatening important road funding that has helped to reduce accidents, fix dangerous roads and fill potholes.
“Residents in the Toowoomba Regional Council area rely on roads – to get the kids to school, to get to work and to move product to paddock, port and plate,”.
The Albanese Government has included a number of important road programs in the infrastructure review, signalling a complete rethink on Commonwealth road funding.
“Under the Coalition, we boosted these programs and the region benefited. Now Labor is putting works programs at risk and creating more uncertainty.”
Mr Hamilton said these programs have a strong legacy and have made roads safer in Groom.
Fast Facts:
- The road safety Black Spot Program has been fixing dangerous sections of road continuously since 1996-97 under the Howard Government,
- Roads to Recovery has been essential in upgrading local roads since 2001
- Bridges Renewal Program has addressed first mile challenges since 2015-
- For a list of projects delivered in the region, visit: http://maps.infrastructure.gov.au/ipams/#/
- During 1 January to 31 December 2022, there were 297 fatalities as a result of crashes within Queensland, which is 22 fatalities (or 0%) greater than the previous year and 44 fatalities (or 17.4%) greater than the previous five-year average
- The updated 2022 Weekly road fatality report number is This report was updated on 11 May 2023.
- Source, Queensland Government
ENDS.
