“How about they just fix the bloody roads?” – that’s the immediate reaction of the Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Dr Anne Webster MP to the Federal Government’s plan to reduce default national speed limits to as low as 70 kilometres an hour on sealed and unsealed roads.
“Let me be crystal clear – we do not want to see a single life lost on any road in Australia,” Dr Webster said, “Reducing speed limits is the lazy approach to road safety reform, where road upgrades and appropriately resourcing law enforcement can make a far longer-lasting difference.”
The Government’s plan includes changing the Australian Road Rules so that 100 kilometres an hour is not the default limit on some regional Australian roads.
One scenario under consideration would see the default upper limit on sealed and unsealed roads to become 70 kilometres per hour.
The Member for Mallee said the Albanese Government’s plan adds insult to injury for regional Australians, who suffer from poorly funded regional roads.
Dr Webster’s recent 5,000 plus survey of her Mallee electorate saw over 74 per cent of residents rating roads in the electorate as being in poor condition.
As Shadow Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, Dr Webster encouraged regional Councils to make submissions to the consultation before the 27 October closing date about the impact of speed limit reductions in regional Australia.
Dr Webster encouraged all Australians to make their views heard in the consultation.
“How do we develop regional Australia if we are slowed down and restricted at every turn?” Dr Webster said.
