Big win for Bruce Hwy safety in landmark decision
Crucial road safety data kept secret from Australians will be publicly released following an exhaustive campaign championed by The Courier-Mail.
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Crucial road safety data kept secret from Australians will be publicly released following an exhaustive campaign championed by The Courier-Mail.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King confirmed today the Albanese government will improve data sharing of critical details relating to road conditions and dangerous sections.
She also revealed next week’s federal budget will include a $21 million commitment to a National Road Safety Data Hub to support the access to the critical information.
The announcement comes after The Courier-Mail exposed alarming safety concerns on the Bruce Highway in its campaign Help our Highway, in partnership with NRMA Insurance, through previously secret safety ratings from the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP).
The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has for years pleaded with state and federal governments to release the data to make costly road funding announcements transparent while also improving accountability by exposing areas of concern.
Ms King said greater data collection will increase road safety and urged state governments to follow Queensland in committing to release the information.
“Addressing the absence of consistent road safety data will complement the work we have already done since we came to Government to improve road safety,” she said.
AAA managing director Michael Bradley applauded the decision from the Albanese government as a positive step towards transparency.
“This is a win for motorists and a win for taxpayers because it’s a reform that will not just save lives but it will go a long way to ending pork barrelling and the politicisation of road funding,” he told The Courier-Mail.
“At a time when the death toll is increasing in this country, it’s wonderful to see governments now lining up for an evidence based response, which should have always been there, but will now be delivered.”
Mr Bradley said access to the road safety data will empower voters to force politicians to commit to road projects that address dangerous sections that risk the lives of drivers and passengers.
“Australia has five elections coming in the 2024/2025 financial year, including in Queensland, and taxpayers around the country need this type of transparency and accountability to be assured that candidates are backing road projects that save lives not save marginal seats,” he said.
The announcement comes after Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads Minister, Bart Mellish, last week pledged to release the AusRAP data from 2025 onwards.
“TMR is currently undertaking procurement to provide this highly specialised data,” he said last month.
“The AusRAP data will complement the road safety data TMR already collects, which assists to prioritise projects and funding across the state.
“I will always support initiatives that will reduce Queensland’s road toll and I will always advocate for more road funding from our key partners like the Australian government.”
Originally published as Big win for Bruce Hwy safety in landmark decision
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