The State Government cut $230 million from road safety programs across the past two years. At the same time it failed on its own targets to fix the road network, a Parliamentary inquiry heard last week.

Evidence tendered to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee has revealed $150 million was cut from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) funded Safer System Road Infrastructure Program.

In another alarming revelation, the marketing and road safety spend of TAC also fell $81 million short of its budget in the past two financial years.

This comes as Victoria is facing another horror road toll, with road deaths already 20 per cent higher than last year.

It was also revealed that road pavement resurfaced or rehabilitated was 30 per cent below the Government’s target, which Victorians are seeing directly in the appalling state of our roads.

Lives at risk

Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien, said Labor’s road safety cuts and a 45 per cent reduction in road maintenance spending since 2020 were endangering Victorian lives, especially those in regional Victoria.

“The Government can’t manage money, can’t manage projects and is failing to fix our roads,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Our roads are in a dire state and the Government admits it’s not keeping up, yet it continues to fail to provide the funding needed to fix up the mess.

“The fact that it also cut safety funding is a serious concern at a time our road toll is rising.

Vehicle damage

“We have more lives being lost on our roads, we have thousands of motorists experiencing vehicle damage annually due to potholes and dodgy roads and yet Labor continues to cut road funding.

“It’s not surprising that public servants today ducked for cover and pointed the finger directly at Labor Ministers for the lack of funds.”

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 28 November 2023.