An RACQ report on Queensland’s national highways shows the Commonwealth must boost funding, Roads Minister claims
Queensland’s Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace has seized on findings from an RACQ report claiming the state’s national highways have been underfunded.
Wallace says although his Main Roads Department had assisted with the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) report, he was still concerned by the results showing national highways in Queensland are the worst in the nation.
“National highways are the responsibility of the Federal Government and responsibility for fixing them rests with the Commonwealth,” Wallace says.
“I welcome this study because it shows how much Federal funding we need to do to bring our national highways up to standard.”
After years of under-investment by previous Commonwealth Governments, Wallace says it’s little wonder that Queensland’s national highways get such a bad report card
“I think we can all agree that our national highways need more federal funding.”
He says the RACQ AusRAP report clearly identifies that the Federal Government is responsible for funding.
“It says Queensland’s national highways pose a higher crash risk to motorists than any other State – eleven of the 16 worst sections of Queensland’s national highway are on the Bruce Highway.”
Wallace says he agreed with RACQ Executive Manager Traffic and Safety John Wikman that a significant investment in Queensland roads was long overdue.
“I will be fighting for that investment for our national highways,” says Wallace.