Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, says Labor’s humiliating reversal on forcing regional communities onto slower, lower-quality roads confirms what locals have been saying for months: the policy was unworkable, unsafe, and designed to shift costs away from Canberra and onto the bush.
Mr Willcox said he heard the message “loud and clear” from residents right across the Dawson electorate.
“People in Dawson told me bluntly that they don’t want to be slowed down on rural roads that already look like something out of a third-world country. They want roads brought up to standard, not pushed backwards,” Mr Willcox said.
He said the policy had nothing to do with safety and everything to do with cost-cutting.
“This was never about improving safety. It was about Labor avoiding its responsibility to invest in rural and regional roads. They tried cost-shifting, they got caught out, and now they’re scrambling.”
Mr Willcox noted that even Labor MPs publicly criticised the proposal.
“When members of the Government itself are recorded saying it’s a bad idea, you know it’s bad.
Labor can spin it however they like, their own team didn’t believe in it.”
He also made clear that the Albanese Government is dragging its feet when it comes to funding for regional roads.
“This government is showing nothing but contempt for the people who live and work in our regions.”
The Member for Dawson said constituents were rightly furious that the Government ever considered forcing slower speeds as a substitute for proper investment.“You can’t run an agricultural powerhouse on degraded roads.
“You can’t get produce to market, livestock to sale yards or machinery to farms on reduced- standard corridors.
“Slowing everyone down was never a solution; it was an insult.”
Mr Willcox added that the Government needed to stop playing politics with regional infrastructure and start treating rural communities with respect.
“Labor tried to penny-pinch on the backs of rural Australians. They failed. Now they need to recommit to long-term, reliable, fit-for-purpose funding for regional roads, because these roads are the economic arteries of electorates like Dawson.”
Mr Willcox said he would continue to fight for the road infrastructure local communities need and deserve.
“Dawson deserves roads that support our industries, not roads that hold us back.
“I’ll keep pushing until the Federal Government stops cutting corners and starts delivering for the regions.”
Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is calling for urgent upgrades to Dawson’s rural roads, urging the Albanese Government to fund the infrastructure regional communities rely on every day. Photo supplied
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