Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

Under Australia's system of federation, states and territories have responsibility for building and maintaining our highways, while the Commonwealth government contributes funding. Having the Commonwealth and the ADF assume responsibility for highway construction and maintenance from states and territories would present significant constitutional and practical barriers that would make such a suggestion impossible. While the ADF is there in moments of greatest need, the primary role of the Defence Force is the defence of the nation.

The Albanese government is focused on delivering practical outcomes to improve our roads. This includes an unprecedented increase in maintenance funding, which, after being frozen for nine years under the coalition, has now been indexed at 2½ per cent per year and backdated to when the freeze was brought in.

Question negatived.