Stephen Bennett and Mark Bailey trade blows over Bundaberg roads

A furious MP has questioned how the Transport Minister can sleep at night knowing that 83 lives have been lost on regional roads in just six months. But the Minister is not having a bar of it.

A furious MP has questioned how the Transport Minister can sleep at night knowing that 83 lives have been lost on regional roads in just six months.

The tragedy on our roads has been highlighted in a RACQ report that listed areas such as Burnett and Callide as some of the worst.

Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett says the unnecessary loss of life needed to stop and levelled blame at the State Government.

The Burnett had the third highest number of road deaths at nine lives lost, behind Callide and Nanango, according to the recent report.

“We need the Transport Minister to take urgent action before there’s another tragedy,” he said.

“According to the RACQ, safer drivers on safer roads will improve Queensland’s horrific road toll.

“We can all make a conscientious effort as individuals to drive to the conditions and not get complacent, but when it comes to safer roads, this is where we really need the State Labor Government to start listening.”

Mr Bennett said the regions were often ignored when it came to roads.

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett is upset by the findings of an RACQ report into road deaths.

“Unless you live in Southeast Queensland, it appears we are not a priority for this State Labor Government,” he said.

“How can the Transport Minister sleep at night knowing 83 people lost their lives on our roads across regional Queensland in just six months?”

Mr Bennett said every life was precious.

“I am inundated with horrific stories of accidents, near misses and fatalities on our state roads across the Burnett every single day,” he said.

“The Isis Highway and Goodwood Road need dire maintenance, while Rosedale Road is absolutely abysmal and is far below what is expected of a high-use commuter route.

“Our regional State Roads are dangerous; we need urgent action before it’s too late.”

Minister Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey. Pics Tara Croser.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey responded to Mr Bennett, saying it was the LNP that had failed the region’s roads.

“When Stephen Bennett and the LNP were last in government, they cut $1.6 billion from the roads and transport budget, including a $60 million cut from road safety funding, a $25.6 million cut from the regional safety development program, and a $93.2 million cut from council road funding – the heart of regional road funding,” he said.

“So it’s a bit rich for him to complain about regional road funding when the LNP cut the guts out of regional roads …”

Mr Bailey took umbrage with being told the Isis had been neglected.

“If he’s so concerned about the Isis Highway he should talk to his federal LNP colleagues about it, as we’re doing the heavy lifting right now by delivering a $42.5 million Isis Highway upgrade which we are funding 100 per cent, while the Federal Government hasn’t chipped in a single dollar on that project,” he said.

“Over the next four years the Palaszczuk Government is delivering a record $27.5 billion roads and transport plan which is creating 24,000 jobs and driving Queensland economic recovery from COVID-19.

This includes delivering $17.5 billion worth of project across regional Queensland.”

Mr Bailey said, in addition, the state had recently locked in $174 million worth of funding for road safety projects across Queensland.

“In this year’s state budget we committed almost $1.7 billion to road safety, which will be used to prioritise safety upgrades, improve driver education, make school zones safer and develop policies to reduce road crashes and trauma,” he said.

Mr Bailey said there were a score of other measures also being taken.

“We’re also taking action right now by rolling out mobile and fixed cameras to catch drivers illegally using their mobile phones and not wearing seatbelts, anywhere, anytime, including in regional areas,” he said.

“And from next month Queensland will also have tougher penalties for drink drivers, with first-time offenders who are convicted of drink driving and have their licence disqualified required to complete a new education program before they can get their licence back.

“In total, we’ve got more than $140 million locked in the budget for road upgrades that will be rolled out in the Bundaberg region over the next four years.”

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