STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms URQUHART (Braddon) (13:46): The Albanese Labor government is continuing to invest in important road safety and freight infrastructure right across the electorate of Braddon. The Bass Highway is a critical transport corridor for local communities, businesses and the freight industry, and the projects at Flowerdale and Detention River will make a real difference for the people who rely on it every day.

At Flowerdale, we are delivering safer access onto Preolenna Road and Ewingtons Road with dedicated turning lanes and improved road alignment helping reduce risks for motorists and traffic flow. At Detention River, construction is progressing on the next stage of a new heavy vehicle driver rest area, providing three truck-parking bays for Hellyer-bound freight operators.

This practical investment supports safer fatigue management for those truck drivers who keep our economy moving. Every new rest area creates opportunities for drivers to stop to rest and recharge, helping ensure they get home while supporting reliable freight movements across the region. These projects form part of the Albanese Labor government's broader investment in improving road safety, strengthening freight efficiency and supporting economic growth along the Bass Highway corridor.

That is a very busy stretch of road with a lot of truck movements every day out of really heavily industrialised areas. These upgrades show that federal Labor is delivering for regional Tasmania through essential infrastructure investments every day.