Thursday 30 January 2025
Potholes galore, but Labor doesn’t know where the money’s going
The Allan Labor Government is presiding over a disastrous deterioration in the state of Victoria’s roads but can’t tell Victorians where it is spending road maintenance money.
In answers to questions on notice from the Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien, the government was unable – or unwilling – to say how much money is being spent on resurfacing and rehabilitation works. Questions on notice here.
In a further embarrassment, the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, was also unable to provide answers to a series of other questions.
Ms Horne could not provide any data on sealing of shoulders, cleaning of roadside drains, how many contracts had been issued for resurfacing of roads or even how much money Victoria received from the Commonwealth for road safety programs. Further questions on notice here.
It comes after a 95 per cent reduction in total area of road repaired last financial year and on the back of significant cuts to the road maintenance budget.
“Labor likes to put out a lot of spin about how much it’s spending on roads, but Victorians know the reality of our pothole riddled road network,” said Mr O’Brien.
“We also can see the lack of investment in the state of our roads and even Labor can’t now confirm where the money is being spent.
“The suggestion that taxpayer expenditure on road resurfacing or rehabilitation isn’t known is just a fallacy.
“The government clearly should know what it’s spending its money on, but the fact is it’s embarrassed by the lack of investment and is doing its best to cover up.”
Mr O’Brien said Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister Melissa Horne should be honest with Victorians and admit they have been bungling road maintenance for years.
“If Labor was serious about its claims over the investment it’s making in road maintenance, it would come clean and be honest with Victorians about how they are spending their money.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage our roads and it’s Victorians who are paying the price.”
