Tuesday, 8 September 2026

 Paul HAMER (Box Hill – Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (14:09): Safe and reliable roads are one of the most basic things that a government can deliver, and that is why the Carroll Labor government is focused on getting back to basics by investing an additional $352 million this year to double the number of potholes removed and double the length of road repaired. That is double the number of potholes that those opposite claim they would fix in a given year, and our investment is flowing immediately, not four years from now.

Labor listens to communities, building and upgrading roads to help Victorians get home sooner. Last week I joined the Premier and the federal minister for transport in the member for Werribee’s electorate to open the new Ison Road, three months ahead of schedule. Over the weekend we announced a $1.55 billion upgrade to the Western Freeway in partnership with the Albanese Labor government. This upgrade will improve safety and reduce congestion for the tens of thousands of people who use the Western Freeway every single day. The Minister for Youth, the member for Melton and the Minister for Rural and Regional Development have long been advocates for this upgrade. It is a game changer for the west.

A re-elected Carroll Labor government will upgrade more major roads that Victorians use every day. In the south-east we will duplicate Hallam Road in Hampton Park and Hallam, we will widen Evans Road in Cranbourne West and we will upgrade the intersection of Governor Road and Boundary Road in Mordialloc. In the north we will upgrade Findon Road in Epping and Somerton Road in Greenvale. And in the west we will widen Point Cook Road in Seabrook, we will fix the Ballan Road–Bolton Road intersection in Wyndham Vale, we will widen Taylors Road in Kings Park and we will upgrade the intersection of Hogans Road and Derrimut Road in Hoppers Crossing.