Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Port cities, yes. As I live on the outskirts of a port city, I realise that and I know the infrastructure needs that relate to that port city, particularly with the third coal loader being built at the moment. There are a number of infrastructure needs that need to be looked at within my local area or adjoining electorates, and they do impact very much on what happens within the electorate of Shortland.

The bill amends the AusLink (National Land Transport Act) 2005. It demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to road safety and local road infrastructure. The amendments in this bill will enable funding of the projects, including heavy vehicle safety, from 1 January 2009, allow for the continuation of the Roads to Recovery program beyond 30 June 2009 and allow for better management of the Roads to Recovery funding lists. I think it is really important that there be better management of the Roads to Recovery funding list, which sets out funding recipients in Australia and the amount they receive, which is not currently able to be amended except in very limited circumstances, and it is the government’s feeling that that is not the best approach.

The main provisions in the bill amend the definition of roads contained in the act, including heavy vehicle facilities, such as rest stops, parking bays, decoupling facilities and electronic monitoring systems. Once again, the member for Hinkler spent a great deal of time discussing the issues that surround rest stops, and the government is quite mindful of those issues. This will enable the government to provide funding for these facilities under the $70 million heavy vehicle safety and productivity package.

The facilities that will be delivered under the heavy vehicle safety and productivity package will improve road safety and provide a better deal for truck drivers. One in five road deaths involves heavy vehicles, with speed and fatigue being significant factors. I have met with drivers and they have told me about the issues that really impact on them and impact on road safety. I have given an undertaking to those drivers and to union members that have come to see me about the impacts in their industry that are causing them enormous stress and affecting safety on the roads. This government is keen to look at those issues, because there is no other industry that I can think of where the safety of so many people can be impacted upon by the strains and stresses that are put on drivers, so I think it is very important that we look at that.

In fact, in 2007 there were over 200 road deaths in Australia involving heavy vehicles. Talking to drivers, I found that they really put a lot of emphasis on the impact that fatigue has on them, the impact that meeting deadlines has on them, the impact that rising costs have on them, the contracts that are in place and how those contracts, not being negotiable, are in some cases actually leading to the drivers operating at a loss or a very small profit.

The bill also extends the Roads to Recovery program until 30 June 2014, and it makes it clear that under the program funds can be allocated to use in particular states while the most appropriate entity to finally receive the allocation is determined. This will allow funding to be reserved whilst arrangements are being put in place to provide funds for roads in unincorporated areas where there is no local council. I think that once again the member for Hinkler dealt with that very well when he was talking about possible organisations that could be responsible for preserving these arrangements, but I think there are many others besides those he mentioned. The bill also provides for bridges and access roads in remote areas. The current funding period ceases on 30 June 2009. We realise just how effective and important the Roads to Recovery program has been, and the government has decided to continue the funding from 2009 to 2014. I am very pleased that the opposition is supporting this legislation.

Spring 2008 is a critical time for the Roads to Recovery measures of the bill to be passed in order to allow councils adequate time to plan their works during 2008-09. This is the time when the councils are developing their budgets and identifying their priorities; therefore we need to get this legislation through to give certainty to local government areas. Each local government authority across Australia is guaranteed a share of the AusLink Roads to Recovery program funding. The formula that the shares are determined by is based on population and road length. It is set by the local government grants commission in each state and the Northern Territory, and the money is paid directly by the Australian government to each council—no middleman. This allows for the maximisation of the money that local governments receive, and once again it is a very transparent way to allocate funds.

Also, local governments are responsible for three-quarters of Australians’ roads—over 810,000 kilometres. The Roads to Recovery program provides much-needed funding to local councils around Australia to enable them to make urgent repairs and upgrade their roads. The continuation of the program means that local governments can confidently plan for continued improvement of their road network. The Australian Local Government Association, which represents councils across Australia as a parent body, has welcomed the extension to the Roads to Recovery program and considers it to be an essential element in local governments’ ability to maintain and upgrade local roads. In 2008-09 the government will deliver $2,028,091 to local councils in my electorate for urgent safety upgrades and repairs. Lake Macquarie City Council will receive $1,124,365 and Wyong Shire Council will receive $903,726.

One of the points that were made by the member for New England and also the member for Hinkler was the need to make sure that areas outside the capital cities get their share of funding. I know that in the past the simple fact that we are close to Sydney has often led to the local government areas within the Shortland electorate not getting the profile that they need. I can say that the use of this formula and this money that has been given to the local councils in the Shortland electorate demonstrate that they are being looked at and being looked after. There are many more things that need to be done in that area.

Some of the projects undertaken by AusLink Roads to Recovery to make much-needed repairs in my area have been Cadaga Road at Gateshead, Redhead Road at Redhead, Cams Wharf Road at Cams Wharf and, I think, Elizabeth Bay Road in Lake Munmorah. If you add to that the money that has been given to the Shortland electorate through the Black Spot Program, it means that the needs of the people in the area that I represent are being looked after through the Roads to Recovery program—a program that I think is a very, very good program.

The legislation not only secures the program for five years but also increases funding by $250 million to a record $1.75 billion to councils. That is needed and it will be greatly appreciated. At present, the Roads to Recovery program is due to run out on 30 June 2009. Local roads are critical for efficient and safe freight movement. Often the last kilometre from the highway to the port is under local government control, and that was identified very much in The great freight task, which I referred to earlier. This money will make it easier and make it more likely that those roads are looked after in the way they should be. Subject to the Senate allowing the increase to the road user charges, the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program is anticipated to receive $10 million in 2008-09, $20 million in 2009-10 and $20 million in 2011-12. The Roads to Recovery program is anticipated to receive $350 million in 2009, $350 million in 2010-11, $350 million in 2011-12 and $350 million in 2013-14.

Roads are an issue that impacts on everybody’s life. About five years ago I conducted a survey in the Shortland electorate. I asked people to identify the issues that they thought were most important. I expected something like health or education to be identified as the most important issue. The way I structured the survey meant people could identify the issues, and they numbered them accordingly. Over 94 per cent identified that roads were an issue of great importance to them. If I could just go over the survey: they could identify whether an issue was of great importance, minimal importance or of average importance, and roads were identified by 94 per cent of people as being of great importance. That was the issue that had the highest number of people identifying it as being of great importance. To me that says that we need to get it right. To me that says that AusLink is the way to go. It is imperative that we give this money to our local councils and, in addition, it is imperative that all levels of government work together in relation to roads to see that the best outcome for all Australians is achieved.

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