LABOR BAILS OUT ON KEY REGIONAL ROAD FUNDING PROGRAMS

The Albanese Government’s scrapping of the Bridges Renewal and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programs will have dire consequences for the regional road network says Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Federal Member for Barker, Tony Pasin MP.

Mr Pasin said the Albanese Government’s decision to scrap two programs indicated a complete misunderstanding of the importance of regional road networks in supporting supply chains and driving economic growth.

“In their first 18 months in Government Labor has taken the axe to important road infrastructure projects funded through infrastructure investment pipeline such as the Truro Freight Route and now they have announced they will abolish two highly successful road safety programs specifically designed to improving first and last mile infrastructure,” Mr Pasin said. 

“The Bridges Renewal and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programs have been critical to regional Australia, improving sections of our road network for the safe and efficient movement of goods and the safety of all road users.”

The electorate of Barker has been the beneficiary of almost $21 million in improvements through the HVSP Program and more than $31 million through the Bridges Renewal Program since 2015, bringing unquantifiable benefits to road users and the local economy*.

“The Albanese Government have shown once again that rural and regional communities like ours are out of sight, out of mind,” Mr Pasin said.

“Labor are ignorant to the importance safe and high functioning bridges and roads provide, not only to regional industries, but in delivering product to port and beyond which in turn supports national economic growth and prosperity.

“A safe, efficient, and productive supply chain has a direct impact on the cost and quality of goods. It’s in the national interest to support first and last mile infrastructure initiatives to support the freight task and accommodate growth.” 

The total domestic freight task is projected to grow 26 per cent between 2020 and 2050.

“The Albanese Government have not considered the flow on effects its decision to cancel these important road programs will have on the expanding freight task, industry productivity, regional road safety and ultimately the cost of living for the consumer,” Mr Pasin said.

Labor claimed the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity and Bridges Renewal programs would be abolished and replaced with a new $200 million per year Safer Local Roads program.

However, the detailed funding data released by the Commonwealth Treasury in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) in December 2023 shows the new program actually delivers less money over the budget forward estimates than the two original funding programs.

The new Safer Local Roads program also gives no assurance that first and last mile initiatives (the majority of which are in rural and regional Australia) would be addressed as the Bridges Renewal and HVSP Programs achieved. 

*projects funded in Barker since 2015 as follows: