The NSW Nationals in the federal government have committed $33 billion over the next four years to improve road safety and help Australians get home sooner and safer.
This includes $65.3 million for a new Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas Program to provide more vehicle rest areas on regional and rural roads, and to improve heavy vehicle rest areas that already exist.
The 2022-23 Budget also established a new $180.1 million Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program to improve safety at level crossings across Australia.
The Coalition has also committed to extend funding for three important road safety programs, including $12 million for the Road Safety Innovation Fund, $10 million for Driver Reviver Site Upgrades and $4 million for Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund.
The NSW Nationals in the federal government are delivering national leadership on road safety as well as continuing to deliver vital road safety initiatives including the $3 billion Road Safety Program, $5.8 billion Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, $7.2 billion Roads to Recovery Program and the $1.3 billion Black Spots Program.
Today’s funding is part of the Coalition’s record $120 billion, 10-year infrastructure investment program which is delivering new and existing infrastructure projects across the country and helping to improve safety outcomes.
Building on our record, a re-elected Coalition Government will continue to deliver more projects in regional areas, where the road fatality rate is disproportionately 10 deaths per 100,000 persons compared to two deaths per 100,000 persons in metropolitan areas.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Government was increasing its focus on making Australia’s roads safer.
“We must do everything we can to reduce deaths on our roads and spare families from the immeasurable impact these tragedies have,” Mr Joyce said.
“Improving road safety is among our highest priorities. Better roads keep cars and trucks safe, delivering commuters to their destination, and products and commodities to supermarkets and ports.
“Roads are the critical arteries of our nation, not only supporting the movement of people but facilitating the flow of goods and commodities from regional businesses to supermarkets and ports.
“We must not only make roads safer, but more efficient. More reliable roads and freight routes will drive the growth of regional industries and ensure our valuable commodities can be sold to the world.
“So far, the Coalition Government’s $3 billion Road Safety Program has delivered safety improvement works to more than 19,000km of the national road network and supported around 12,000 jobs.”
For more information see the Liberal and Nationals plan for “Keeping Australians safe on our roads” at nationals.org.au/election-2022
