News

Roads | March 20, 2019

Labor’s neglect for rural roads

Daniel Andrews and Labor have voted down a plan to direct more state revenue towards fixing rural roads.

The Liberal Nationals wanted to increase the amount of money directed from the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account toward repairs and maintenance on our country roads.

But the Labor government voted against it.

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy said road maintenance across rural Victoria is a shambolic mess under Daniel Andrews and Labor, with a lack of funding and misplaced priorities.

“Many roads in the Lowan electorate are riddled with potholes and crumbling shoulders, with locals regularly reporting damage to vehicles and agricultural machinery,” Ms Kealy said.

“It is simply not good enough that our roads are so poorly maintained that locals are putting their lives at risk when going about their daily lives doing a job they love, taking the kids to school or going to footy or netball training.

“The RACV has named western Victoria as having the worst roads in Victoria.

“If Daniel Andrews and Labor don’t change course, in just six years from now, 50 per cent of Victoria’s road network will be rated as poor.

“Lowan residents are sick of shoddy road workmanship and we just want our roads fixed properly to give locals the roads they are entitled to and deserve.

“The Andrews Labor Government talks the talk with expensive road advertising campaigns; it’s time to walk the walk by being the Premier for all of Victoria, not just Melbourne.

“Country Victorians deserve better,” she said.