Wednesday, 3 June 2026

 Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (19:14): (1681) I once again urge the minister to take responsibility for an extraordinary situation affecting motorists in South-West Coast. The action I seek is from the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and it is a full explanation regarding the significant vehicle damage suffered by motorists on the Princes Highway during roadworks and to advise when a compensation process for those affected will be established. Over just three days, roadworks at Illowa resulted in more than $81,000 worth of vehicle damage. More than 70 motorists have contacted my office after their vehicles were struck by loose stones left on the highway following roadworks maintenance. These motorists have reported smashed windscreens, chipped paintwork and other costly damage. Of those who have already undertaken the repairs, the cost exceeds $45,000, and a further $35,000 worth of repairs has been quoted but not yet completed, bringing the total to more than $81,500. That is huge, and that figure is almost certainly an underestimate.

At a time when Victorian families are already being squeezed by the relentless cost-of-living pressures caused by a growing tax burden imposed by this Allan Labor government, the last thing that they should be forced to pay for is vehicle damage caused by government incompetence and failure on a state-managed road.

This incident raises serious questions about how these works were conducted. Motorists suffered damage while no loose stone warning signs were in place. The stones were then swept from the road and only afterwards were warning signs erected when there were no stones – crazy. If the risk justified warning signs after the road had been swept, we may well ask why motorists were not warned when the loose stones were actually present and causing damage. The damage has not been limited to private vehicles. Buses have been affected, and even a Victoria Police highway patrol vehicle was damaged. This was not an isolated incident involving one or two unlucky motorists; it was a widespread failure by government that impacted dozens of road users travelling on a major state-managed highway.

I have raised the matter with the Insurance Australia Group to ensure insurers are aware of the circumstances and the number of motorists affected. Perhaps there is a possible case for coordinated action to establish accountability and to ensure fault does not unfairly fall upon individual drivers. It is unacceptable that motorists are left paying insurance expenses and excesses or bearing the full costs themselves for damage caused by poor road work management. When members of the public cause damage through negligence, they are expected to take responsibility. The same standard must be applied to the government and their contractors when their actions and failures cause avoidable harm. More than $81,000 in damage in just three days is not a minor oversight, it is a major failure.