“Backing Me Is Backing The Bruce!” pt 2

Opinion Piece

A Dutton-Littleproud Coalition Government will reinstate the 80:20 federal funding
model for nationally significant road projects in regional and remote Australia —
ensuring more regional roads and highways get upgraded.

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox said regional roads including the Bruce
Highway in the Dawson section had missed out on critical road funding because of the
Albanese Government’s decision to slash funding for regional road projects by 30 per
cent.

“While country roads have been deteriorating, the Albanese Government has cut and
delayed more than $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects, and abolished critical
road programs for the regions such as Bridges Renewal and Roads of Strategic
Importance,” Mr Willcox said.

“Only a Coalition Government has the back of the nine million Australians who live
outside our capital cities and that is why we will restore the 80 per cent Commonwealth
funding rule for all new road projects from the first day we are elected.”

The majority of the national highway network runs through regional Australia and
Labor’s cuts mean these critical freight routes will be denied the funding needed to
maintain efficient, safe and productive supply chains. Regional roads are less safe than
roads in our major cities, and regional Australians are five times more likely to die in a
road crash than people in our cities.

“The Albanese Government ignored warnings from an independent review of federal
road funding that scrapping the 80:20 funding formula would result in reduced
investment in regional roads, and that is exactly what we have seen under Labor,” Mr
Willcox said.

“Despite the obvious need of our regions, the Albanese Labor Government cut the
Commonwealth contribution for regional roads to just 50 per cent.”

"In the past 10 days there has been 3 serious accidents on the Bruce Highway claiming
more lives. My people need the Bruce Highway in the Dawson electorate brought up to
a safer standard."

"The Coalition’s plan to restore 80:20 funding for regional road projects would
incentivise the state governments to partner in productivity enhancing upgrades to
freight routes and is part of the Coalition’s plan to strengthen the economy and get
Australia back on track."

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