Tuesday, 12 May 2026

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:26): My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. Resurfacing and rehabilitation of our roads has fallen 75 per cent in four years. Why are we paying more but getting less of our roads fixed?

 Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for First Peoples, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Minister for Community Sport) (14:26): I thank the member for his question and his ongoing interest in this topic. I disagree with the premise of the question that we are spending more and getting less. We are spending differently. Instead of patching, we are rehabilitating and resurfacing, and that is being backed in by this year’s budget with an additional more than $1 billion. We have got the sustained highest investment in history –

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is debating the question. These figures come from the minister’s own budget.

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order. The Minister for Roads and Road Safety has concluded her answer.

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:27): On a supplementary question, road patching is forecast to fall from 556,000 square metres two years ago to just 76,000 square metres. How is the government planning to fill 200,000 potholes when its own budget targets show an 87 per cent fall in road patching?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Nationals and the Premier will cease interjecting across the table. The minister on her feet deserves some respect. You have asked the question; wait for the answer.

 Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for First Peoples, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Minister for Community Sport) (14:28): I thank the member for the question. The figure of 200,000 potholes from this year’s budget reflects the modelling that has been done by the department based on –

Danny O’Brien interjected.

Ros SPENCE: You had your question.

The SPEAKER: Minister, through the Chair. The minister has concluded her answer.