PLUS feedback from the Coober Pedy Community Alliance, and The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association

After receiving widespread backlash from regional Australians, Labor has abandoned their plan to lower speed limits on country roads to as low as 70 kilometres per hour.

Federal Member for Grey Tom Venning, who brought his concerns on this out-of-touch proposal to Canberra in October, said this news was a significant win for regional Australia.

The electorate of Grey covers 92.3 per cent of South Australia, and for most, long stretches of road is all that connects them to family and essential services.

Lowering speed limits across long and poorly unmaintained roads would have only decreased safety and productivity for regional motorists, freight operators, and farmers.

Member for Grey Tom Venning said there is still a long way to go for regional roads, particularly as the Albanese Government has cancelled, cut, and delayed more than $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects since they were elected over three years ago.

Tom Venning Member for Grey said, “We need a Government that will deliver safer roads, not slower roads.”

“This is a victory for regional Australians, but it is not the end of this fight.”

“Our roads are in desperate need of funding, yet Labor has offered no additional funding for our roads, and no legitimate plan to address dangerous roads in Grey.”

“Labor has continually targeted regional roads for spending cuts, reducing funding from 80 per cent under the Coalition down to 50 per cent for road upgrade projects in the regions.”

“Programs designed by the Coalition to return a fair share of the Federal budget to the regions and make roads safer have been abolished by Labor, including the Roads of National Significance and Bridges Renewal programs.”

“Our roads in regional Australia are the lifeline that connects our regional communities to essential services, and they are in desperate need of funding to improve conditions.”

“South Australia alone is facing a $2 billion road maintenance backlog. Statistically, South Australia receives the lowest amount of Federal road funding out of all states, both on a per capita basis and per kilometre of road.”

Chairperson of the Coober Pedy Community Alliance, John Di Donna also responds to the, LABOUR BACKFLIP, that included more than 11,000 public submissions during the consultation process.

“The government is once more demonstrating how disconnected it is from the Australian people,” said John.

NEWS FLASH –  Longer travel times for regional communities may increase fatigue. Agricultural and freight transport organisations will be ruining productivity and rising costs.

“The Road Safety Action Plan 23-25 suggest that reducing speed limits will reduce road accidents, although poor and deteriorating road infrastructure remains a significant problem,”  John noted.

 “As a frequent traveler, I agree with Tom, slowing down road users doesn’t fix potholes or a lack of maintenance”, said John.

South Australia’s road network is deteriorating faster than it can be repaired. “I’ve witnessed roads damaged by floods remain untouched for over two years before any repairs were made.”

“Animal carnage on the road network is due to a lack of vegetation clearance along the road verges.  

“Some contractors are delivering substandard resealing across the road network. In addition, most drivers adjust their speed based on road conditions, slowing when roads are in extremely poor condition.”

“Maybe a portion of the billions of dollars invested in city road infrastructure could go toward fixing regional and rural roads”

Note: As a business person John is a regular, commuter along the Far North and Flinders highways and byways, covering the entire Far North & East and Outback of South Australia.

ALRTA Welcomes Government Decision to Scrap Rural Speed Reduction Proposal

The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to abandon the proposal to reduce default speed limits on unsigned rural roads, following overwhelming public feedback.

The proposal, developed under the National Road Safety Action Plan, received more than 11,000 submissions, with strong opposition from rural communities, industry and everyday road users.

ALRTA President Gerard Johnson said the decision is “common sense prevailing” after a deeply flawed concept failed to address the real drivers of road safety.

“This was never a road safety solution — it was a distraction from the real issue,” Mr Johnson said.

“We thank the Government for listening to regional Australians. Scrapping this proposal is simply common sense.”

Mr Johnson said the focus must now shift toward meaningful investment in rural road infrastructure, rather than measures that add complexity for drivers without improving safety outcomes.

He highlighted the commencement of works on the $500 million Beef Roads program in Queensland as a positive example of the type of investment that actually delivers safety and productivity benefits.

“We are already seeing works start on the $500 million Beef Roads project in Queensland,” Mr Johnson said.

“This is exactly what rural Australia needs — real, on-the-ground investment that makes roads safer, stronger and more reliable.”
“Better roads save lives. Better roads reduce crashes. Better roads improve productivity.

Speed-limit changes do none of these things without the infrastructure to support them.”

Mr Johnson said ALRTA looks forward to working with all levels of government to progress practical, evidence-based safety measures that address the true causes of serious incidents on rural roads — including chronic under-maintenance, deteriorating pavement conditions, and limited funding for regional renewal.

“The Beef Roads program shows the way forward,” he said.

“If we want safer roads, we need to invest in them. That’s how you get real safety outcomes.”
About ALRTA

The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association represents the interests of rural road freight operators across all states and territories, advocating for safety, productivity and sustainability across Australia’s agricultural supply chains.