Andrew Willcox (Dawson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today as a matter of urgency to support the member for Wide Bay's motion. The Bruce Highway is the lifeline for countless individuals and families across my electorate of Dawson. This vital artery is more than just a road. It connects us to our jobs, our schools and our loved ones. It's how our farmers deliver fresh food to our tables, how truck drivers keep our economy moving and how miners contribute to our shared prosperity. Yet, while the Bruce Highway serves as a crucial conduit for our livelihoods, it is simultaneously the sight of horrific and avoidable tragedy. And the statistics speak for themselves.

Analysts from the Australian Road Assessment Program, conducted by the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, have revealed a chilling truth. Motorists travelling on the Bruce Highway are five times more likely to be injured or killed in a crash than those driving between Sydney and Melbourne. They are five times more likely to be injured or killed, just for living in regional Australia instead of a capital city. This is an alarming disparity that cannot continue to be ignored by those on the other side of the House.

The section of the Bruce that runs through Dawson, from Mackay all the way up to Townsville, has been identified as the most dangerous section of the highway. Out of a five-star rating system, more than half of this section of road has a safety rating of two stars or less. Just over a month ago, I launched a petition to back our Bruce, which now has over 1,000 signatures and testimonials from people who have experienced the devastation of the Bruce firsthand. That's 1,000 signatures, and they are still flooding in—1,000 stories, 1,000 more reasons why we have to act now to fix our Bruce Highway. Is 1,000 Australian lives not enough for the Albanese Labor government to care?

One story, submitted by Julie from Home Hill, said:

The roads are narrow with nowhere to pull off, the large trucks tail gate and terrorise car drivers. We drive from Home Hill to Townsville weekly—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 12 : 06 to 12 : 26

One story, submitted by Julie from Home Hill, said:

The roads are narrow with nowhere to pull off, the large trucks tail gate and terrorise the car drivers. We drive from Home Hill to Townsville weekly for my daughter to play volleyball.

The number of near misses from trucks overtaking is insane. Travelling south of Home Hill is even more terrifying. Potholes, old surfaces and still the same truck issues.

Of late, there seems to be accidents constantly. This crucially must be fixed …

Another, by Jenna from Alligator Creek, shows how scary and dangerous our Bruce is, saying:

My husband, myself and our two children were almost in a head on collision near the crematorium south of Townsville one afternoon.

Every single afternoon when returning home on the Allendale Drive/Bruce Highway intersection, I hold my breath with how dangerous and scary it is to sit in the middle of the skinny intersection which is 100km/hour, feeling the cars and semi trailers zoom past.

Our kids know to remain silent at this point so that I can have my full attention to the worst intersection I have ever used.

Can you believe that—asking your children not to talk, because of the state of the highway?

We know that head-on crashes account for more than 50 per cent of fatalities on the Bruce Highway. This is because there is no separation between north and south traffic. Effectively, with vehicles travelling at 100 kilometres per hour, it's running into a concrete wall—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 12:28 to 12:39

More alarmingly this Albanese Labor government has reduced the funding contribution from an 80-20 per cent split to a 50-50 per cent split. This reckless move leaves my communities vulnerable. The total disregard for safety and lack of action from this current government is unacceptable. I'm calling on the Labor government to restore the 80 per cent funding contribution, and I call on this current government to fast-track these crucial upgrades to make our highways safe now.

Debate adjourned.

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