From the Guardian · · 1m 30s
A pothole, a death, and an election fight
A 71-year-old rider died on the Western Highway, and Victoria's crumbling roads are now a ballot-box issue.
In brief
A 71-year-old rider died on the Western Highway, and Victoria's crumbling roads are now a ballot-box issue. Nearly half of Victoria's state road network is rated poor or very poor, and both parties are now spending big to be seen fixing it. Originally reported by the Guardian.
A rider dies at Trawalla
Emergency services reached the Western Highway near Trawalla Road just before 1pm Sunday. A 71-year-old Ballarat man had reportedly hit a pothole, lost control and died at the scene.
Police have not concluded
Investigators are still working out what caused the crash. The pothole account comes from reports, not from a finding.
“Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, which are yet to be determined.”
Half the network is failing
A Victorian auditor general report on 9 September found 48% of state roads in poor or very poor condition, up from 39% in 2021. It examined more than 23,000km.
“deteriorating”
Two very different cheques
The Coalition has pledged $5bn over four years to fill 1m potholes and restore preventive maintenance. Labor has put up $352m to lift repairs from 250,000 to 500,000 in 2026.
The premier owns it
Ben Carroll called the death a tragic loss of life and said road conditions aren't good enough. He wants maintenance brought back in-house after being outsourced in the mid-1990s.
“the buck does stop with us”
An election in November
Shadow roads minister Danny O'Brien called the death the saddest possible consequence of government neglect. Victorians vote on 28 November.
“It is time for action and this needs to be the highest priority now so that no more lives are lost”
What to remember
Nearly half of Victoria's state road network is rated poor or very poor, and both parties are now spending big to be seen fixing it.
