STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Dr WEBSTER (Mallee) (13:54): I would like to point out to the Labor government that regional communities are not some kind of pinata for Labor votes, for Labor members to gain votes in the city. Regional communities have suffered under this government, particularly under the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. He has rolled out, at a rapid pace, transmission lines, wind turbines, solar panels and substations—you name it—on prime agricultural land.

This is a problem for my community of Mallee. There is no end to that. During this last week we have found out that the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has put out consultation to drop the default speed limit on regional roads to, potentially, 70 kilometres an hour.

There happens to be no favour in regional communities for this move. We all want to see fatalities reduce in the regions. However, this is actually all about carbon emissions, because the climate change and energy minister is wanting to reduce carbon emissions in the regions by slowing down regional drivers.

It will also impact city drivers, who will have to drive at 70 kilometres an hour as well. It's not good policy.