Today’s State Budget has confirmed funding for a range of road and transport projects across Western Australia to address road safety, manage congestion and encourage the uptake of low and zero emissions vehicles.
RAC General Manager External Relations Will Golsby said while the detail of the budget would be examined in the days ahead, RAC strongly welcomed funding for key initiatives.
“RAC welcomes significant investment in road, rail and active transport infrastructure and we will now work through the detail and engage with the WA Government to confirm timing of these initiatives, to ensure the benefits are realised as soon as possible,” Mr Golsby said.
The 2021/22 State Budget includes $11.7 billion towards road projects over the next four years, including long-held RAC priorities such as Albany Ring Road, Bunbury Outer Ring Road, and Indian Ocean Drive. Crucially, the Budget includes $411 million in joint state and federal funding over the next three years for the Regional Road Safety Program, building on $258 million invested in the past year.
“It’s great to see investment in a range of important road projects and in particular we’re pleased to see funding to continue implementing the life-saving Regional Road Safety Program,” Mr Golsby said.
“RAC has consistently called for the Regional Road Safety Program to be fully funded and delivered as an urgent priority to save more than 2,000 people from being killed or seriously injured on our roads.”
The Budget continues investment in public and active transport infrastructure, including major rail projects, an expansion of Perth’s CAT service, a two-zone cap on public transport fares and $265 million for cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
"It’s also good to see funding for the WA Electric Vehicle Strategy which includes a program to deliver new charging infrastructure across the State,” Mr Golsby said.
Disappointingly, the Budget confirms registration fees have risen by four per cent this year, more than twice the rate of inflation.
Analysis by RAC released last month revealed registration fees had increased by over 80 per cent in the past 10 years – almost five times the rate of inflation.
“These ongoing fee increases add up over time to be a huge hit to motorists’ wallets, so it’s unfortunate successive state governments have chosen to make it more and more expensive for motorists to get around,” Mr Golsby said.
According to the Australian Automobile Association, WA households are now spending almost 15 per cent of their income on transport costs, which equates to almost $20,000 a year.
To read RAC’s State Budget Submission please visit our website.
ENDS
Media contact: RAC media team, 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
