A motion put forward by the Liberals and Nationals that would have recognised the poor state of Victoria’s roads, especially in rural and regional areas, has been voted down in the Legislative Council.
State Budget figures confirm a $380 million reduction in annual spending on road maintenance since 2020 – a massive 45 per cent cut.
Whether it’s potholes on freeways, crumbling shoulders and indefinitely lowered speed limits, regional Victorians are once again being left behind.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Georgie Crozier, said at a time where the road toll is increasing fixing our roads should be a priority.
“Safety on our roads should be front of mind, but Labor is refusing to accept that there is a problem,” Ms Crozier said.
“Under Labor, Victoria is broke and Victorians are paying the price with the Federal and State Budgets cutting road funding at a time when our roads have never been worse and the road toll has skyrocketed.”
Shadow Minister for Roads, Danny O’Brien, said the Andrews Government must reverse its savage cuts and make roads safer for Victorians.
“You can’t run away from this problem. The Andrews Government has once again turned its back it on the safety of regional Victorians,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Victoria’s roads aren’t just bad, they’re dangerous. It’s time this growing problem is recognised and no longer ignored.
“A 45 per cent cut in funding since 2020 is alarming enough, but Labor is making it worse with a 25 per cent cut from 2022 to 2023 in this latest brutal budget.”
