It must be election year: Labor suddenly discovers roads in disrepair

The Nationals’ Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has condemned the Allan Labor Government’s latest roads announcement as a hollow political stunt, saying Victorians are paying the price for years of neglect, underfunding and incompetence.

Mr McCurdy said the Government’s own figures expose the reality behind the spin, with 91 per cent of Victorian roads rated “poor” or “very poor” in 2024.

“After 12 years of Labor, almost every road across this state has been run into the ground,” Mr McCurdy said.

“They can put out all the glossy media releases they like, but people in Ovens Valley and regional Victoria know the truth every time they get behind the wheel.”

Mr McCurdy said Labor boasting about filling potholes only highlighted how badly the network had been allowed to deteriorate.

“When Labor says it filled hundreds of thousands of potholes, that’s not an achievement; it’s an admission of failure,” he said.

“You do not end up with that many potholes unless roads have been neglected year after year.”

Mr McCurdy said the consequences were serious, with regional Victorians disproportionately bearing the burden of unsafe roads.

“More than half of Victoria’s road deaths occur in regional areas, where communities are forced to drive longer distances on roads Labor has failed to maintain,” he said.

“Families are paying the ultimate price, motorists are being hit with costly repairs, and local businesses are suffering because this government cannot manage basic infrastructure.”

Mr McCurdy said “You can always tell when an election is near, Labor rolls out another promise to fix the roads they let fall apart.”

“Same press release, different year. 

“Victorians deserve safe roads, not excuses. Ovens Valley deserves better than a government that only notices the problem when votes are on the line.”

Labor can't manage roads, and Victorians are paying the price.