Libs’ plan to scrub graffiti from Victoria’s grubby road network, in record time
Authorities would be forced to scrub graffiti from freeways within 24 hours under an ambitious plan by Opposition Leader Brad Battin to clean up Victoria’s roads and restore pride in the state.
Victoria
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Authorities would be forced to remove graffiti from freeways within 24 hours under a plan by Opposition Leader Brad Battin to clean up the state’s road network.
Mr Battin said the war on graffiti would bring public road maintenance in line with the requirements of some private road operators who are already forced to remove graffiti under tight deadlines.
He said critical thoroughfares including major freeways should showcase pride in Victoria, not be tarnished by graffiti, and said a Coalition government would direct the Department of Transport and Planning to immediately remove graffiti from freeways within 24 hours of the offending.
“Labor has abandoned the needs of everyday Victorians,” he said.
“Graffiti on our freeways isn’t just an eyesore — it’s a sign of a government that no longer cares about protecting public property.
“The Coalition will take action, clean up our roads, and restore pride in public spaces while focusing on a law and order system that actually works for the people.”
Graffiti has become a significant problem on major public roads in recent years, with complaints about the Eastern Freeway raised in parliament as early as 2022.
ConnectEast — which maintains and operates EastLink — is already required to remove offensive graffiti within 24 hours of it being reported, while other graffiti is removed within a week.
Latest data showed the agency completed 668 graffiti removal jobs in the 2023 financial year.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson refused to detail how much was spent annually on graffiti removal across Melbourne’s public roads.
But she said graffiti removal was carried out regularly by the Department of Transport and Planning’s maintenance teams, which conducted periodic inspections of the arterial road network.
Despite spruiking a $964m investment in overall road maintenance, general road maintenance across the state has fallen to record lows with latest data showing that resurfacing works have plummeted by more than 65 per cent on regional roads, and 25 per cent in metropolitan Melbourne, in just three years.
Liberal MP Nick McGowan said he had received dozens of complaints about the state of the Eastern Freeway which runs through his upper house region.
“Graffiti is spreading across our freeways and public spaces, leaving neighbourhoods feeling neglected and unsafe,” he said.
“The Coalition will bring real change. We will clean up our freeways, hold vandals accountable, and restore faith in the justice system that should protect us.” The Coalition will not stand by while Labor neglects local communities.
“Every Victorian deserves safe, clean, and well-maintained public spaces that reflect the pride we have in our state.
“A Coalition government will act to enforce graffiti-free zones, protect public property, and ensure freeways are a source of community pride.”
Originally published as Libs’ plan to scrub graffiti from Victoria’s grubby road network, in record time
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