Australian Government funding for road blackspots in the Northern Territory should be increased with a focus on regional and outback roads, Australian Trucking Association CEO Ben Maguire said today.
Mr Maguire was speaking after meeting with the office of Northern Territory Senator Sam McMahon.
The ATA and its member associations, including the NT Road Transport Association, collectively represent the 50,000 businesses and 200,000 people in the Australian trucking industry. Together, we are committed to safety, professionalism and viability.
“There is a clear and pressing need to address regional and remote road blackspots in the Territory,” Mr Maguire said.
“Government statistics have found that blackspot funding, on average, reduces the number of crashes causing death and injury by 30 per cent.”
NT Road Transport Association Executive Officer Louise Bilato said that regional road safety was vital for the Territory.
“Road infrastructure is critical to the Territory’s economy and community,” Ms Bilato said.
“We urgently need to invest in more road safety projects in regional and remote communities.”
The ATA strongly supports the Australian Government’s existing commitment to fixing road blackspots and the 2019-20 Budget commitment for an additional $50 million per year to the program.
“In 2019-20 the Government will invest $1.48 million in road blackspots in the NT, with most funding going to the major towns,” Mr Maguire said.
“We welcome Senator McMahon and the Government’s commitment to fixing NT road blackspots.
“We’re calling on the Government to increase annual road blackspot investment in the Territory, specifically targeted to regional and remote locations,” he said.
