The federal Coalition says the Albanese Government has failed to provide leadership on road safety, after an independent assessment of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 revealed a rising national road toll.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Senator Bridget McKenzie said 882 Australians had died on the nation’s roads so far this year to the end of August, the worst result since state and federal governments committed to halve the road toll in 2021.
“The road toll has continued to climb every year under the Albanese Government, while Federal Labor has cancelled, cut and delayed more than $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects in just four years,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Road fatalities have risen by a shocking 19.7 per cent since January 2021.
“Unfortunately, with our highways and suburban streets becoming less safe due to potholes and crumbling edges, Labor’s cuts to road funding are compounding an appalling situation.
“Every death on our roads leaves behind a grieving family, friends and workmates who all have to deal with the terrible trauma of a life cut short.”
Senator McKenzie said the independent review found a 28.9 per cent increase in bus fatalities, a 27.9 per cent rise in motorcyclist deaths, a 12.1 per cent increase in light commercial vehicle deaths and a 7.2 per cent rise in heavy vehicle deaths over the strategy’s first four years.
She said the figures raised questions about why the Government had axed programs designed to make roads safer for truck drivers and transport workers, including the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, Roads of Strategic Importance and the Bridges Renewal program.
Senator McKenzie said a critical area of weakness identified in the report was the drop in policing effort since the COVID pandemic, with 30 per cent fewer random breath tests undertaken and a third fewer speeding fines issued in 2024 compared with 2021.
“Visible and active policing on our roads has a real deterrent effect but this focus seems to have fallen at the same time the road toll has risen,” Senator McKenzie said.
Senator McKenzie said the Australian Automobile Association had described the report as a “wake up call” for the Government, and called for greater national leadership on road safety.
“Sadly, to date there has been no urgency from either the Prime Minister or Transport Minister King on this issue, given we are three-quarters through 2026 and Labor is yet to replace the National Road Safety Action Plan which expired last year,” she said.
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