Editorial: Drivers want action on rural road crisis
While we are well aware of the price of fixing our rural road network, the cost of doing nothing is far greater, writes the editor.
The results of the RACQ’s 2024 Unroadworthy Roads Survey makes for depressing reading, particularly if you spend a lot of time on Queensland’s regional highways.
Respondents to the survey – that we report on ahead of today’s Bush Summit in Toowoomba – are having to deal with conditions that are frankly unacceptable in a state as wealthy as Queensland.
The Bruce Highway – part of the national Highway 1 – is too narrow and prone to flood damage.
The Kennedy Highway that continues on from Cairns is prone to closure from landslips and bridge damage due to cyclones.
Mount Mee Rd has a lack of overtaking lanes, with the road shoulders in extremely poor condition.
All the 10 highways in the list are subject to potholes that take too long to repair.
While we are well aware of the price of fixing our rural road network, the cost of doing nothing is far greater.
What is the cost of road-freight delays, especially during times of national disasters when major roads can be closed for weeks?
What is the cost of wear and tear on vehicles? Every pothole takes its toll.
And of course, what is the human cost – the lives changed irrevocably, and the lives lost because the demands of simply driving on country roads became too much?
Stacey Benz lost her mother May Bowen on the Warrego Highway, at the Toowoomba Rd turn-off in 2020.
Ms Benz, who witnessed the crash while travelling in another vehicle, held her mother as she took her last breath.
She has refused to drive down that section of the highway since the crash, calling for urgent action to build an overpass to improve safety at the intersection.
“It’s quite a confusing area,” she said.
“Let’s do something to protect somebody else down the track, and every single tear was worth it to make sure that no one else has to lose their mum this way.”
It is a familiar story. The Courier-Mail told many of these tragic tales during our Help Our Highway campaign, highlighting the dangers of the Bruce Highway.
That campaign convinced the federal government to provide an additional $7.2bn as part of a new $9bn package to significantly improve safety on the Bruce Highway, while restoring a historic 80:20 funding split with the state.
It is a welcome start, and a critical one. We appreciate the commitment of the state and federal governments. But there are more highways in regional Queensland than the Bruce.
And as Stacey Benz could tell us, every life taken on the roads – where ever it happens – is a tragedy.
Everyday Aussies will meet with experts and politicians today in Toowoomba to discuss rural roads, and many other issues facing the bush.
They don’t expect miracles, they just need to know their concerns are being taken seriously.
It’s not too much to ask.
NOT ALL CAN PROTEST
In March a wave of small but vocal protests swept Gaza, with groups of Palestinians – mainly refugees – denouncing Hamas, and calling for an end to the war with Israel.
Officially, Hamas said the people who had taken to the streets had a right to protest. Unofficially, they engaged in reprisals against protesters, including torture and murder, as well as threatening journalists.
Across Australia yesterday, tens of thousands of people marched in support of Palestine, as is their democratic right.
Brisbane Region Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman estimated about 10,000 people attended the Queensland protest, although that estimate seems a little low.
They marched for a variety of reasons. Some are long-time supporters of a Palestinian state, some have been shocked by the terrible civilian death toll in Gaza since the Israeli invasion, and some, no doubt, would have been motivated by centuries-old prejudices and hatreds.
None, however, face the terrors faced by ordinary Gazans when they stood up to Hamas earlier this year. And that is simply because Hamas is a terrorist organisation and Australia is a western democracy that follows the rule of law.
It should never be forgotten that the Israeli invasion of Gaza was a perfectly justified reaction to the Hamas atrocities on October 7, 2023, when almost 1200 Israelis were killed. Another 3400 were wounded and 251 were taken hostage – 50 remain.
Whether Israel should cease its military action is a legitimate question. But that push isn’t helped by flying the flag of a terrorist organisation – Hamas – as happened in Brisbane’s protest.
Most protesters in Brisbane yesterday were well behaved, and made their point. But Hamas does not give the same rights to the war-weary people of Gaza.
Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here
