The Andrews Labor Government needs to explain how it has allowed a Federal road funding cut of close to $1.3 billion in last week’s roads budget, further worsening the parlous state of Victorian roads.
Victoria will receive just half of the Federal funds allocated to NSW and Queensland under the “road investment component” of the budget, and barely a quarter of the funds allocated to Western Australia and Queensland under the “Roads of Strategic Importance” program.
As the Weekly Times reports today, this is due to the failure of the Andrews Labor Government to provide matching funds for Federal roads programs.
Across 2022-23 and 2023-24, the previous Liberal and National Federal Government budgeted a combined $3.593 billion for Victoria’s roads. In the same period, the Albanese Labor Government has cut that figure by almost $1.3 billion for a combined $2.334 billion investment.
Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien, said Labor at both levels of government, is failing.
“We’ve seen Victorian Labor cut $230 million from the roads maintenance budget in the past two years and now its failure to match federal funds will see Victorians pay the price.
“Our roads are in a dire state right across Victoria and instead of fixing the problem, Labor is making it worse.
“We need significant investment to fix our roads, especially in flood affected areas, and the government also needs to be helping local councils to fix the massive maintenance backlog on local roads.
“In Parliament today the Minister reminded us of Federal Labor’s infrastructure review, which could in fact lead to more cuts to road projects in this state.”