RAC has welcomed funding in the Federal Budget for road and rail infrastructure that will reduce road trauma and improve the efficiency of WA’s transport network.
RAC General Manager External Relations Will Golsby said the Federal Budget confirmed further investment for lifesaving road upgrades in regional areas.
“For several years, our highest priority has been the WA Regional Road Safety Program, so we are pleased to see additional funding being directed to regional road upgrades in this year’s Federal Budget,” Mr Golsby said.
“Once fully funded and delivered, the Regional Road Safety Program will upgrade around 17,000 kilometres of roads in WA and save more than 2,100 people from death and serious injury.”
The 2022/23 Federal Budget includes $140 million for regional road upgrades as part of a $2.1 billion infrastructure investment for WA.
“We also strongly welcome additional funding for road and rail projects across the State, including further investment in our passenger train network and $320 million for stages 2 and 3 of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.”
“A temporary 22 cents a litre cut to fuel excise will be welcomed by many motorists, however the budget missed an opportunity to provide a clearer pathway to incentivise electric vehicles and accelerate our transition to greener mobility and cleaner and healthier air.”
According to the Australian Automobile Association, Perth households are now spending almost 15 per cent of their income on transport costs, which equates to almost $21,000 a year.
“It will be important for the ACCC and Fuelwatch to closely monitor fuel prices and margins and call out any fuel retailers who are not passing on savings to motorists across WA."
“The cost of transport remains a high priority issue for RAC members, which is why we will continue to call on the WA Government to also ease the squeeze on motorists and commuters by freezing vehicle registration fees and public transport fares over the next three years when it hands down its own budget in May.”
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RAC Media Contact: Rhys Heron, 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
