Council
26 November, 2025
McArthur criticises proposed speed change
MEMBER for Western Victoria Bev McArthur slammed the Federal Government’s plan to lower speed limits on unsigned country roads.
Speaking in adjournment last Wednesday, Mrs McArthur dubbed the solution proposed by the Albanese Government to lower the national road toll as “ill considered, short-sighted and thoughtless”.
“In Victoria it is a temporary fix to a perennial problem created by the Allan Labor government, which is deliberately underinvesting in country roads,” she said.
“Matters could not be more different in New South Wales.
“According to recently released Parliamentary Budget Office data, this government is spending 13 per cent less on road maintenance per kilometre than New South Wales.
“The New South Wales Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison noted that they will not be implementing blanket speed zone reductions across regional New South Wales.
“She is not the only one – Western Australia Labor Senator Glenn Sterle called the proposal rubbish and nonsense, noting that the road transport industry struggles day in and day out to be safe, sustainable and viable.”
Mrs McArthur said reducing rural speed limits would see productivity fall across the region and cost businesses thousands annually.
“If a council wants to reduce the speed limit on a particular road and advises the department accordingly, that is fine. But imposing a blanket limit on rural roads with little consideration of their condition frankly beggars belief,” she said.
“As it is, Australia’s labour productivity has been steadily declining over the last 20 years, from 1.8 per cent in financial year 2004 to 0.8 per cent in financial year 2025.
“According to the National Party’s Kevin Hogan, reducing the speed limit to 70 kilometres an hour would see productivity fall by around 30 per cent on average.
“In hourly terms, a blanket 80-kilometre speed limit would see a Vite Vite resident spending an extra 30 hours annually behind the wheel to do daily school runs between Skipton and back.
“In dollar terms, for a dairy processor running 10 trucks daily, an extra 30 minutes per trip could cost several hundred thousand dollars annually.”
Mrs McArthur urged the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to reject the proposal and focus on fixing regional roads instead.
“Country Victorians travel long distances for work, school, health care and daily life,” she said.
“They should not be punished because governments neglect their roads.
“I call on the minister to stand with regional communities, reject this proposal and fix our roads.”
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