House debates

Wednesday, 28 March 2018

Statements by Members

Fatality Free Friday, Wide Bay Electorate: Bruce Highway Upgrade

1:37 pm

Photo of Llew O'BrienLlew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Today, members and senators are signing a pledge committing to safe driving as part of Fatality Free Friday, which is on Friday, 25 May. I thank the event organisers, the Australian Road Safety Foundation, as well as the co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety group, Alex Gallacher, for putting together this year's pledge signing at Parliament House.

Also today, Shelly Strahan, the editor of The Gympie Times, is releasing a petition urging this place to support the fast-tracking of the Bruce Highway Upgrade—Cooroy to Curra, section D. For too many years, too many families in Wide Bay have been struck by the devastating impacts of accidents causing death and serious injury along the Bruce Highway between Cooroy and Curra. If you have lived in Gympie for any length of time, you'll know a family who has felt the devastation of serious injury or death caused by an accident on the Bruce Highway.

Section D is a game changer for Wide Bay and Queensland. It eases congestion through Gympie, improves access to the Cooloola Coast and enables faster travel between Cooroy and Maryborough. Above all, it eliminates one of the deadliest sections of the Bruce Highway. Show your support for section D and sign Shelly's petition on my website or on the parliamentary website.