Tony Pasin MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
MEDIA RELEASE
LABOR ROAD FUNDING CUTS FAIL SA
Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP says the Bridges Renewal and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program road funding announcement made by the Federal Labor Government last week is a kick in the guts for regional SA as only projects totalling $3.3 million received funding while $80 million remains unspent.
The Government announced the second tranche of funding for the 2023/24 financial year last week, with just 19 new projects across the two programs bringing the total for the year to $105 million despite a budget allocation of $185 million.
In South Australia, of the newly funded projects announced only two projects within the District Council of Mount Remarkable received funding under the Bridges Renewal Program, while no new projects were funded through the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.
Mr Pasin, who is also the Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport said that these two road safety programs were an important funding avenue to ensuring freight was transported efficiently and our roads were safe for all road users.
“The former Coalition Government invested $772 million into these important road safety programs in our last budget because we understand keeping freight running efficiently and safely is vital to keeping our economy strong and supporting jobs,” Mr Pasin said.
“Not only has the Labor Government decided to abolish both programs which have been of great benefit to road safety and freight efficiency, but they’re failing to release all the money. There would be dozens of South Australian road and bridge projects crying out for upgrades and by cutting $80 million in funding Labor is leaving these sections of road in disrepair,” Mr Pasin said.
In November 2023 the Government announced it would be abolishing the Bridges Renewal and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity programs (as of 30 June 2024) and replacing them with a new program that does not have the same specific commitment to fixing local bridges and heavy vehicle routes.
| Program | Tranche 1* | Tranche 2* | Total 2023-24 | Budget Allocation | Underspend |
| BRP | 41,027,366 | $25,599,178 | 66,626,544 | 95,000,000 | 28,373,456 |
| HVSPP | 18,244,439 | $20,664,000 | 38,908,439 | 90,000,000 | 51,091,561 |
Source: Tranche 1 BRP announced 2 November 2023 and HVSPP announced 7 November 2023; Tranche 2 announced 4 April 202
Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds | Ph: 8724 7730
