Nationals MPs have welcomed an increase in expenditure through the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA) in this year’s State Budget.
Member for the Agricultural Region Martin Aldridge MLC and Member for Central Wheatbelt Mia Davies MLA said the record $146million spend was a result of a concerted campaign for the Road Safety Minister to increasingly allocate funds in the RTTA to road safety projects.
“It is positive to see the Minister allocating more road safety funds this financial year,” Mr Aldridge said.
“Recent tragedies and unpalatable statistics suggest to me that we as a community are not doing enough to prevent road trauma, and this is an area in which we all must lift our game.”
The RTTA is funded from red light and speeding infringements to support road safety initiatives in Western Australia.
Member for Central Wheatbelt Mia Davies MLA welcomed projects in her electorate, including $5million for the Great Eastern Highway and Great Southern Highway (Chidlow to York Road) and two new passing lanes on the Great Eastern Highway in the Shire of Yilgarn.
“Great Eastern and Great Southern Highways have significant issues, particularly with increasing truck movements,” Ms Davies said.
“This funding will improve the quality of these roads and as a result reduce road safety risk in these areas.”
Ms Davies welcomed the funding into Wheatbelt roads, where road safety statistics show you are eleven times more likely to be killed in a road accident than in Perth, and also funding to increase alcohol and drug testing by WA Police.
“Road infrastructure improvements, education and additional policing are key facets of improving road safety, and this funding from the RTTA will continue that work,” she said.
Mr Aldridge welcomed the increase in spending, but acknowledged there is still work to be done.
“The RTTA is projected to have a $37million balance at 30 June 2017,” he said.
“More needs to be done to better utilise RTTA funds on road safety initiatives to tackle the road safety challenge we have in the Wheatbelt.
Media Enquiries: Mia Davies MLA on (08) 9041 1702 or mia.davies@mp.wa.gov.au OR Martin Aldridge MLC on (08) 9324 3155 or martin.aldridge@mp.wa.gov.au
