Tuesday, 21 June 2022

 Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:16): (1851) My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. Cutting $200 million out of the roads maintenance budget in the past two years shows a distinct lack of respect for the safety of regional motorists. My constituents have come to me about and are frustrated with the state of the following roads: Traralgon-Maffra Road; the Moe to Glengarry road; the Glengarry West Road and Brown Coalmine Road; the Tyers to Yallourn North road; the Tyers to Thomson Valley road; the roundabout on Traralgon West Road at Maryvale; the Trafalgar to Thorpdale road, which consistently subsides; the Strzelecki Highway, which is littered with pockmarked potholes; the Fish Creek Meeniyan-Promontory Road; the Cape Paterson to Wonthaggi road; and many, many more. Alarmingly we have seen a 30 per cent increase in fatalities on rural and regional roads this year. Minister, will you prioritise these Gippsland roads for safety upgrades for my constituents?