The Albanese government has announced it will require states and territories to provide previously withheld road safety data if they want to receive road funding.
For the first time, they said they would “seek to include a provision in this negotiated agreement with states to create a requirement to provide a nationally consistent data set.”
The Government is finalizing its next five-year road funding agreement with states and territories – the National Partnership Agreement for Road Transport Infrastructure Projects – which is expected to come into force on July 1, 2024.
It will include in next week’s Federal Budget a $21 million investment in the National Road Safety Data Hub, with the aim of providing harmonized data from states and territories that “ Everyone can use it effectively.”
They said the center would allow them to identify where best to target funding for road safety, which is especially important as the death toll on the nation’s roads continues to rise.
Catherine King, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, said: “We are increasing investment in transport infrastructure because we know that Better roads will improve efficiency, productivity and safety.”
“Addressing the lack of consistent road safety data will complement the work we have done since coming to Government to improve road safety.”
Data collected by state and territory governments includes not only detailed information about crashes but also about road conditions and traffic policies.
The announcement is a win for stakeholders such as the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), which has consistently called on states and territories to share this road safety data with the Federal Government. .
The peak body of Australian motoring groups has called the Government’s decision “the most significant national road safety reform in decades”.
AAA chief executive Michael said: “With more than 100 people killed on Australia’s roads every month and the death toll increasing, we need data on crash causes, road conditions traffic police force to better understand what is happening.” Bradley.
“This reform will also clip the wings of politicians looking to invest scarce public money in road projects to win votes among marginal constituencies, rather than projects that could save lives. ”
AAA has been running a campaign, Data Saves Lives, calling for this data transparency. The campaign has received the support of all federal MPs from the Coalition, Greens and Teals, as well as independent parties – but only one Labor MP, Dr Mike Freelander.
Hitherto, only Queensland has agreed to share all its road data with the Federal Government.
The Australian Government provides $10 billion in road funding to states and territories each year.
Last year, the number of road deaths was nationwide increased 7.3% to 1,266.
The death rate in New South Wales increased by 24%, in Victoria by 22.5% and in South Australia by a significant 64.8%.
However, road deaths fell in Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory.
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