Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Improving road safety is a key priority of the Albanese government. We know any death on Australian roads is one too many. But, unfortunately, the statistics are heading in the wrong direction. Since 2020 there has been a persistent increase in deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The recent Road Deaths Australia bulletin released by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics shows that during the 12 months to September 2024 there were 1,288 road deaths. This is an increase of 5.6 per cent from the same period just a year earlier. We can't just view these deaths as a statistic. Each casualty is the life of a parent, a child, a loved one or a friend, taken too soon. Each loss creates a wave of suffering and grief that engulfs not just families but often entire communities as well.

Our government is committed to zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 2050. Through the National Road Safety Strategy, underpinned by the National Road Safety Action Plan, we're focused on prioritising areas where the Commonwealth can add the most value. One of those areas is improving road vehicle safety, where we're progressing the uptake of new vehicle safety features and technologies through the new Australian Design Rules. Since 2023 we have introduced 13 new ADRs and provided 31 amendments to existing ADRs.

Another area we're focused on is improving regional and remote road safety through targeted road safety infrastructure programs. We've increased funding for the Roads to Recovery program from $500 million to a billion dollars per year; increased Black Spot Program funding from $110 million to $150 million per year; and created the newer, safer Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, which will increase over time to $200 million per year. We're building and upgrading heavy-vehicle rest areas to ensure our truckies get home safely to their loved ones. And we have created the new National Road Safety Action Grants Program, providing grant funding to programs and initiatives that assist in delivering our commitment to Vision Zero.

Our government is also playing a role in coordinating and facilitating across jurisdictions. In my role as the Assistant Minister for Regional Development, with responsibilities for road safety, I chaired the Road Safety Ministers Meeting last Friday, where ministers from states and territories, along with representatives from local government, came together to share the actions being taken to make our roads safer across the country. Meaningful change can only come about when we work together, share experiences and data and ensure the money we're spending on roads will make a difference.

Under the new funding agreements between states and territories and the Commonwealth, all jurisdictions have committed to share critical road data such as information about fatalities, hospitalisations, police enforcement and analysis of crash risk. This data will give us a clearer picture about where best to target road safety funding, which will save lives and ensure we're investing in the projects that will make the most significant difference. This collaboration is important because no one government is responsible for getting the road toll down; we all have our part to play to ensure our roads are safe. And it's not just a roads issue; there are important connections with other portfolio and policy areas across all levels of government, whether that be health, education or justice. We're bringing all the relevant people together to ensure everyone is doing their part to bring the road toll down.

As we head to the end of the year, we know more people will be on the roads. Holidays mean more road trips with family, more chances to catch up with friends for a drink and the Christmas rush to get your presents sorted. Coming from a state like Queensland, I spend a lot of time on roads, as do others. There's nothing better than heading up the Bruce Highway over the summer holidays to some of the best holiday spots in the world. But with every summer comes heartache when it comes to road safety.

So my message to everyone this summer is don't be reckless behind the wheel, drive with others in mind and be alert. Improving road safety is a collective effort. We can't get the road toll down to zero through government actions alone. All of us need to remember to pay attention, to buckle up, to not drink and drive, to not speed and to not take risks on our road. It just isn't worth it. We want everyone to get home safely, and, if we all do our part, we can keep our roads safe for everyone in the community.

Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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