CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mr CHESTER (Gippsland) (16:42): I want to start with a couple of very simple facts: better, safer roads save lives, and better, safer roads boost productivity. They help us who live in the regions to get our products to market and they keep our cities moving. Now, in regional Australia, we are expected to drive cars which are roadworthy.

Surely, it is then reasonable for us to expect the governments to provide roads which are 'car worthy', because too many people are killed and injured on regional roads every year, as well as the huge associated social and economic costs. Sadly, it is now apparent that the federal government have actually given up on fixing regional roads. They are effectively flying the white flag.

Instead of fixing the roads, they now have a plan to just lower the speed limits. The Albanese government's plan for regional roads is to simply lower the speed limits. Deputy Speaker Aldred, as a fellow Victorian, you've seen what has occurred in our state.

It is the lazy option. Right across regional Victoria's major highways and arterial roads, instead of fixing the roads, the Labor Party put up signs saying 'traffic hazard ahead' and then whacked up an 80-kilometre-per-hour speed zone. 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? 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.

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 for the safety of our families we also should expect it. But this government has cut the Roads of Strategic Importance program. This government has cut 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.

So the message coming from Victorian motorists and regional motorists across the country is: 'Reducing speed limits is lazy. Just fix our bloody roads!'