Tuesday, 16 May 2023

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:08): (206) My adjournment matter is to the Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, and the action I seek is for the minister to advise me and my fellow Victorians on what he is doing to help reduce the terrible death toll of motorcycle riders on Victorian roads. 2022 was one of the deadliest for Victorian motorcyclists riding on Victorian roads, with 56 people tragically being killed. This was up a staggering 30 per cent from the previous year and a terrible 44 per cent above the five-year average for motorcycle deaths on Victorian roads. Victorians know that under this government roads are being neglected. In particular, many country roads are in a terrible condition, with unrepaired damage remaining, and instead of the problems being fixed, new signage designating reduced speed limits is being installed. Of great concern to motorcyclists is the huge number of extremely dangerous potholes that adorn our roads. In most cases hitting a pothole in a car, despite the damage it causes, will not be life threatening, but on a motorbike this is not the case. Motorcycle riders are required to pay an annual motorcycle safety levy, an MSL, which:

… contributes to projects that improve the safety of people who ride motorcycles and contributes towards our goal to eliminate road deaths by 2050.

The TAC state that their focus is on accident prevention when it comes to motorcyclists’ safety, and they have run various campaigns on this. Victorian road users, including many of my constituents who ride motorbikes, deserve to have roads that are properly maintained and fit to ride on. With Victorians paying more taxes and charges than ever before, there is no excuse for letting Victorian roads get into the disrepair they are currently in. Minister, I look forward to hearing from you as to what you are doing to address this dangerous situation.