Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Roads to Recovery Program is a bipartisan program. It is something that Labor had when we were in government and it is something that we are pleased to see this government continue. But what is missing from this motion by the government minister is the recognition that it was Labor's idea to increase the fund. That is because, when this government got elected, they ordered an increase in the fuel excise. They ordered it. They asked that the tax office, the Australian government, start collecting this increased tax, without the tax ever having passed the parliament.

So money was being gathered, but what to do with it? It was Labor's idea—in fact it was the idea of the current Leader of the Opposition, who was then the shadow transport minister, who suggested that this money should go into the Roads to Recovery Program. There's no recognition of that in this motion. It must have just been a simple oversight by those opposite that they didn't acknowledge that it was actually Labor's idea to increase the funding, because we know how critical this program is, particularly to regional electorates. In my electorate of Bendigo, our councils rave about this program and how it almost doubles and quadruples what they're able to do for their roads. Equally important is the 'Bridges to Recovery' program. One of my council areas, the Mount Alexander shire, has the most bridges per population than any other shire in the state of Victoria. That's a lot of bridges to maintain and a lot of bridges to fix. Quite frankly, you wouldn't drive on some of them because they are that unsafe. So, these programs are critical.

I suggest that the government also work with local governments to think about a 'Paths to Recovery' program. It's not just our roads and our bridges that need work; it's also our footpaths and our bike paths. Far too many gaps exist, particularly in the regions, between new estates and old estates, between connecting our communities. If we want kids to be able to ride to school safely, they need a decent path to do so. It's an opportunity for the government to further partner with local government in achieving this. This is an area where local government is not able to keep up with community expectations. I've met with the Deputy Prime Minister about this issue and also with the local government minister. Both of them gave me a hearing but buck-passed and said that it is the role of local government. Well, so are local roads and local bridges, yet we've seen, with the success of this program, that, when federal government partners with local government, more can be achieved. Greater Bendigo, the largest council area in my electorate, have about $600,000 to spend on footpaths. If we partnered with them at a federal level, even doubled what they can spend, that would be $1.2 million towards local footpaths. That would bridge the gaps. It could be a 'Paths to Recovery' program. It would help older people on scooters, mums and dads with prams and kids ride their bikes safely to school. Footpaths are raised at all levels of government, and they are something that this government should take on board.

I also call upon the government to consider increasing all these programs. We are now going through the recovery stage and, sadly, in Victoria, we are still in the midst of the pandemic. This is funding that these council areas would already have got. They already would have got this money, pandemic or not. I call upon the government to increase funding for these programs, because these programs are truly a local economic stimulus. They are great for local tradies. They are great for small business. They are great for keeping councils, which have also been hit hard by the pandemic, employed. This is an opportunity for the government, not to create a new grants scheme, not to create more paperwork for local government, but to increase the funding in this area.

Don't just do what you've always done. It is not business as usual, particularly in my home state of Victoria. These programs will really help our communities survive the economic crisis that they're currently going through and help local businesses to thrive. Now is the time that the government should be looking at increasing the Roads to Recovery Program. Yes, it's bipartisan. Yes, we welcome the funding. But it's not enough. Now is a great chance for the government to increase the funding to the Roads to Recovery Program and to consider a new program of 'Paths to Recovery', because this is good for our communities.

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