The RACT has expressed concern after nearly $350 million was cut in federal funding for Tasmanian road infrastructure, as our state’s road network faces increasing pressure.
RACT CEO Mark Mugnaioni has emphasized that road quality is a ‘significant factor in crashes’ and said that the decrease in infrastructure investment could have ‘serious consequences’.
“Now is not the time to cut investment in our road network given Tasmania has the highest road toll of any Australian state. We need more investment, not less.”
The Federal Budget will redirect funding from the Road Safety Program, which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on roads, to other areas.
Mugnaioni has urged the Federal Government to explain the road upgrades that will be delayed, deferred or canceled as a result of the reduction in funding.
There was an increase in the federal budget for local road funding to Tasmanian councils of $47.9 million.
While Mugnaioni said that this is good news, he explained it “doesn’t go anywhere near offsetting the massive cuts overall”.
