Regional Road Users Abandoned

The Nationals Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has condemned the Allan Labor Government for failing to maintain Victoria’s deteriorating road network, after the Department of Transport and Planning confirmed that of the 196 Victorians who lodged claims last financial year for vehicle damage linked to poor road conditions, only one received compensation.

The revelation was made by the Department secretary under questioning by Ms Benham during a Parliamentary Accounts and Estimates Committee inquiry.

“The figures confirm what every regional driver already knows,” Ms Benham said.

“Our roads are falling apart with potholes, crumbling shoulders and rough surface signs everywhere. They are daily dangers for local families, farmers and emergency services.”

Failure
Committee evidence also revealed the Department failed to meet its own road maintenance targets last financial year, delivering only half of the one million square metres of regional road patching it promised. This year’s target has been cut further to just 70,000 square metres.

“Labor keeps boasting about road maintenance blitzes, but the evidence is plain to see. Regional roads are deteriorating faster than they are being fixed. The Mildura electorate has some of the worst rated roads in the state,” Ms Benham said.

“When will the Allan Labor Government start prioritising safe regional roads?”
In a further indictment, Government data shows that 200,000 potholes were patched across the 23,000km state owned road network in financial year 2024/25.

“That’s not a successful outcome. That’s a failure. That’s a pothole every 100 metres. I don’t call that an improvement and I don’t think most Victorians would either.

“This approach of endlessly patching potholes rather than properly repairing roads is a sign of systemic neglect.