Reports that Victorian road workers have been sent to Queensland due to a lack of work while Gippsland roads are left to crumble has been met with anger by local road users.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South and Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien said it was shocking to learn that our skilled road workforce was heading interstate while our local roads are in a state of disrepair.
“Our Gippsland roads are in dire need of maintenance so it was infuriating to hear that a contractor’s crew of 10 workers from Ballarat had to be sent over 2,000 kilometres to Far North Queensland for six weeks because there is no work for them in Victoria,” Mr O’Brien said.
“I took the opportunity to question Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, in Parliament as to why this would occur when our roads need work.
“Bizarrely the Minister claimed there are ‘contractors out across the network’ including the South Gippsland Highway. Gippslanders will be surprised to hear the Minister thinks everything is going swimmingly on our roads.”
Mr O’Brien said Gippsland roads continue to deteriorate after Labor’s maintenance budget cuts.
“Anyone who drives the South Gippsland Highway, as just one example, will be able to tell you that these works are not taking place.
“Meanwhile contractors are laying off road workers or sending them interstate due to a lack of available projects.”
The Department of Transport’s latest annual report reveals road repairs in Victoria plummeted by a staggering 95 per cent over the past year, while not a single new road resurfacing contract has been issued since the so-called blitz began.
“It’s time for the Allan Labor Government to end the excuses, cut the spin, bring our workers home, and repair the roads that are essential to our safety and daily lives.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage our roads and Victorians are paying the price.”