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Tim Bull slams Labor's plan to further cut road maintenance funding ahead of state budget announcement

Tim Bull has criticised Labor's flagged road maintenance cuts, warning Victoria's deteriorating roads need increased investment - not reductions - as debt and disrepair continue to spiral across the state.

By news@gippsland - 19th May 2025 - Back to News

The Allan Labor government has incredibly flagged a further cut to Victoria's road maintenance allocation prior to tomorrow's Budget. Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, who last week lobbied in Parliament for the significant increases needed in roads investment, said he found the news simply astounding.

Tim Bull said Labor's financial mismanagement has led to spiralling debt and crumbling roads, demanding increased investment, not further funding cuts

Fix our roads

Mr Bull said, "Our roads are the worst they have been in a long time and that's not just my commentary - that is coming from freight and bus companies and regular road users. It's the same across the state."

"We have instances where 'traffic hazard ahead' signs have been in the same location for four years without the roads being fixed, and they are getting worse by the day. Labor's own data showed that 91 percent of roads surveyed were in poor or very poor condition and the recent announcement won't improve that," he said.

Debt destroys roads

Mr Bull said this is the outcome you get when you have a government that cannot manage money. "The state has a spiralling debt that will hit $187 billion with interest repayments alone (not capital repayments) of $1 million per hour or $1 billion every six weeks."

"When you keep cutting funding from areas that need investment there is only one possible outcome, and in this case, it is the continued deterioration of our roads. They simply cannot be repaired to the standard that is required when funding is continually cut. We need real investment in our roads and an increase in preventative maintenance funding, not a reduction," he said.

Pictures from Tim Bull MP website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com