Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak about further unlocking the full potential of the Capricornia region, and that begins with returning to a coordinated, properly funded approach to regional roads—one that delivers safer roads, stronger connections between communities and more reliable and efficient routes for the industries that power our region and add value to our Australian economy. Right now, under Labor, regional roads are being left behind. Funding is being cut. Heavy renewable infrastructure is being hauled across roads that were never designed for that load, and now there's a proposal by Labor to lower the speed limits instead of fixing the problem.

This is not a solution; it's an admission of failure. Instead of investing in road safety, Labor's answer is to slow people down. That approach hits productivity, drives up freight costs and punishes regional Australians who already spend more time and money travelling long distances to access work, education, healthcare and other services. Communities like Clarke Creek, Clermont, Moranbah, Dysart, Middlemount, Lotus Creek and Nebo know exactly what's going on. The problem isn't speed; it's neglect. Take the Fitzroy Development Road, for example. It's a vital freight and tourism corridor linking the Bowen Basin, the Bruce Highway and western Queensland. Yet sections of the road remain in poor condition—narrow, crumbling and unsafe for the heavy vehicles that depend on it every day.

The Peak Downs Highway is a lifeline for mining workforce and freight operators. This road carries the economic pulse of our coal and resources sector. Yet, year after year, locals face dangerous overtaking conditions and pothole riddled surfaces that put lives and livelihoods at risk. And, of course, there's the Bruce Highway—the backbone of Queensland's transport network and the main connector for regional communities across Capricornia. Every upgrade here delivers huge benefits to local businesses, tourism and industry, but the pace of progress has slowed, and we can't afford complacency. Investment in regional roads is one of the smartest and most productive investments any government make.

According to the Roads Australia and BIS Oxford Economics report, the total economic impact of the road industry in 2019-20 was $236 billion. That's direct and indirect value added to our economy. The road transport sector alone contributes around 4.5 per cent of Australia's gross value added. Road investment delivers strong multiplier effects. It creates local jobs, supports small businesses, improves productivity and unlocks regional industries. Over the next four years, road construction nationally is expected to generate over $300 million in output and support more than 57,394 jobs nationally. With major projects like the coalition led $1.98 billion dollar Rockhampton Ring Road project and continuing upgrades to the Bruce Highway, the Capricornia region will deliver back in spades for the economy for every shovel of construction. That's the power of roads done right.

But roads are more than concrete and bitumen. They are lifelines for regional communities. They connect people to opportunity, ensure goods reach markets, enable emergency services to respond faster and keep our mining, agriculture and tourism industries moving. In Capricornia, our roads carry the economic heartbeat of the nation, from the coalfields of the Bowen Basin to the cattle country of the Fitzroy and the tourism destinations along our coast. When our roads fail, the entire nation feels it. That's why road funding should never be seen as a cost. It's an investment in productivity, prosperity and safety. The value of good roads extends well beyond their construction cost. Better roads mean less travel time, safer journeys, improved access to markets and hospitals, and stronger regional economies.

The opposite is also true. When governments neglect regional roads and lower speed limits instead of repairing them, we see increased travel times, reducing productivity for workers and families; higher freight and logistics costs, pushing up prices for consumers; and weaker competitiveness for our farmers, miners and manufacturers. That's the real cost of neglect.

Regional roads aren't just infrastructure; they are the arteries of the Australian economy. For a region like Capricornia—a region that feeds, powers and builds this country—we deserve our fair share of investment. We need a long-term, coordinated regional roads approach that ensures local communities remain safe and supported. The people of Capricornia are proud contributors to this nation's prosperity. All we ask is that Canberra invest back into the roads that make our nation building possible. It's time to stop slowing down the bush and start building it up.