April 5, 2025
A Dutton-Littleproud Coalition Government will reinstate the 80:20 federal funding model for nationally significant road projects in regional and remote Australia—ensuring more regional roads and highways get upgraded.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said regional roads had missed out on critical road funding because of the Albanese Government’s decision to slashed funding for regional road projects by 30 per cent.
“While country roads have been deteriorating, the Albanese Government has cut and delayed more than $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects, and abolished critical road programs for the regions such as Bridges Renewal and Roads of Strategic Importance,” Senator McKenzie said.
“In a cost cutting measure after Labor’s ‘90 day’ infrastructure review, the Prime Minister reduced federal funding commitments for regional road infrastructure to 50:50, to match the urban funding model.
“The Government ignored warnings from an independent review of federal road funding that scrapping the 80:20 funding formula would result in reduced investment in regional roads, and that is exactly what we have seen under Labor,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The majority of the national highway network runs through regional Australia and Labor’s cuts mean these critical freight routes will be denied the funding needed to maintain efficient, safe and productive supply chains.
“Only a Coalition Government has the back of the nine million Australians who live outside our capital cities and that is why we will restore the 80 per cent Commonwealth funding rule for all new road projects from the first day we are elected.”
Federal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan said western Victoria had suffered under Labor’s cuts to road funding with millions ripped out of Green Triangle road projects in Mr Albanese’s first budget.
“Labor has cut the Federal funding contribution for roads of national significance from $4 down to $1 for every dollar a state government invests in these roads. That means the Princes Highway and the Western Highway in Wannon have both seen a reduction in federal government funding for improving and maintaining these roads under Labor,” Mr Tehan said.
“The Victorian state government will simply not fund the Princes Highway and the Western Highway properly if the Commonwealth reduces its contribution.
“A vote for Teals or Greens is a vote for Labor’s 50:50 funding model, which means less money for regional roads,” Mr Tehan said.
Senator McKenzie said the Coalition’s plan to restore 80:20 funding for regional road projects would incentivise the state governments to partner in productivity enhancing upgrades to freight routes and is part of our plan to strengthen the economy and get Australia back on track.
Our priorities are building stronger regional economies and secure communities, delivering opportunity and prosperity for all regional Australians, and ensuring a sustainable environment.
Stronger, more secure, sustainable local communities that provide the opportunity for everyone to prosper will deliver a stronger, more secure and sustainable nation.
The Nationals commitment to the national interest does not stop there. The Nationals provide a considered and common sense perspective on all elements of Government policy and a balance between Australia’s political extremes.
