The Albanese Government’s plan to slash speed limits on regional roads to as low as 70 kilometres per hour was quietly abandoned this week, leading to a collective sigh of relief.
More than 11,000 people and organisations made a submission on the proposal, most opposing – including NatRoad.
Our view was that significantly lowering speed limits across the board was a flimsy bandaid at best, delaying freight, costing consumers more, and doing nothing to actually fix the state of regional and rural roads.
While it’s good to see the government have finally dropped a bad idea, we’re now back at square one.
Our regional and rural roads are in a state of crisis and we must act now.
Australia has recorded 1,361 road fatalities in the past year—a 6.9 per cent increase. Two-thirds of those deaths occurred in regional areas. October marked the worst monthly toll in five years.
Every person’s death represents families torn apart and a huge impact on their community.
We owe it to those people to ensure that our regional and remote roads are urgently improved.
There’s no debate Australia’s road network remains chronically under-maintained. The Grattan Institute reports that governments are currently underspending on road maintenance by at least $1 billion per year.
We have seen more than $30billion worth of federal infrastructure programs cancelled, cut or delayed.
Regional councils are problematic,with the Grattan Institute estimating between 42 per cent and 75 per cent more funds are needed to fix potholes and crumbling country roads.
Local rates are nowhere near enough to fund investment on the scale which is needed, especially for those vital, but less utilised roads.
Many of our members report that there are areas now dangerous to drive on, putting an economic handbrake on those communities which need services and supplies.
Filling in potholes and resurfacing rural backroads is not a sexy way to spend money, but it saves lives and communities.
We need the federal government to prioritise urgent, targeted safety initiatives and a boost to funding.
We would want to see at least $500 million per year investment through the Roads to Recovery program for road upgrades and maintenance, as well as some sensible speed limit reviews in proven high-risk areas.
We also need the National Black Spot Program to be expanded by at least $50 million annually, along with a public safety campaign about driving safely to the conditions of the road.
This would provide a balanced, practical and evidence-based path forward.
Our regions rely on roads and freight. Investing in our nation’s infrastructure shouldn’t just be limited to major roads and freeways in the city.
The annual funding needed to make a difference is not an amount to be sniffed at, but lives and livelihoods are depending on it.
The time to act is now, and make the roads safer for everyone.
