Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has slammed the Albanese Government’s plan to cut speed limits on regional roads and demanded an increased focus on road safety works.
Speaking in Federal Parliament, Mr Chester said it was lazy of the Labor Party to reduce speed limits because roads had fallen into disrepair.
“Right across regional Victoria’s major highways, arterial roads, instead of fixing the roads, the Labor Party put up signs saying ‘traffic hazard ahead’, and then whack up an 80 kilometre per hour speed zone,” Mr Chester said.
“The federal government is joining the party, looking at reducing the default speed limits outside of built-up areas to 70 or 80 kilometres an hour and are finally seeking some feedback from the community on whether or not it is a good approach.
“Instead of just lowering the speed limits, how about the federal government work in partnership with our communities and actually fix the road network?
“The message coming from Victorian motorists and regional motorists across the country is: ‘Reducing speed limits is lazy. Just fix our bloody roads.’
Mr Chester accused the Albanese Government of failing to invest in effective measures to reduce road trauma.
“You are 11 times more likely to die on a regional or remote road compared to the cities. In 2024, 1,294 Australians died on our roads and 30,000 people were injured,” Mr Chester told Parliament.
“All of the experts say you need a safe system approach. A safe system approach involves safer roads, safer drivers, safer cars and safer speeds. It is lazy to just blame the drivers when the government should be investing in a better, safer road network right throughout regional Australia.
“The productivity of our economy demands it, and the safety of our families should also be expected. This government has cut the Roads of Strategic Importance and the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. This government has not provided any new funding for the Princes Highway in 3½ years. That is the road safety record of the Albanese Government.
“They’re failing to invest in the regions, which generate the wealth of our country and we are paying the price with road trauma and cost repairs to our vehicles.
“We are expected to drive cars which are roadworthy, surely we can expect our governments to provide roads which are car-worthy.”
