Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

Yesterday with the ACT Minister for City Services, Tara Cheyne, and federal member for Canberra, Alicia Payne, I announced $10 million of joint funding, with each government committing $5 million for the road safety program. This money will fund 18 priority areas across the ACT. This program represents a vital step forward in our ongoing efforts to enhance road safety and reduce the road toll in our community.

Road safety is a critical concern that affects each and every one of us. Every year too many people are killed and countless others have their lives changed forever. It is our collective responsibility to address this issue with the urgency and commitment it deserves. This $10 million investment will fund a comprehensive range of measures designed to make our roads safer for all users, whether they are drivers, cyclists or pedestrians. Road safety is a shared responsibility for all levels of government and road users and our community.

In the year to May, 1,303 Australians were killed on Australian roads. In the ACT, there have been five deaths so far this calendar year. We know that one death on our roads is one too many. This funding will deliver strong projects directly addressing road safety. By working with communities and governments we can identify high-priority sites. Bringing down Australia's road toll requires a range of different solutions, whether that's improving roads or changing behaviours. It takes everyone to be responsible around our roads in order to achieve Vision Zero, our collective target to achieve zero deaths by 2050.

The collaboration and commitment between the federal government and the ACT government is crucial for building a safer, more— (Time expired)