Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor's fuel supply crisis is undermining road safety, local government services and community life in regional Australia. In Kaniva, Goroke and Edenhope in the south-west of my electorate of Mallee on the Victorian and South Australian border, the West Wimmera Shire Council can no longer afford basic road maintenance. Bitumen is too expensive. Communities are cutting back on essential travel and regional Australians are being left behind despite the Prime Minister's promise to the contrary.

Liquid fuels do not power just cars and farm machinery. They account for nearly half of Australia's total energy demand, and are essential to farms, productivity, construction materials and, critically, bitumen. When fuel prices surge and supply tightens, the damage spreads quickly and deeply through the economy. Australia imports 80 to 90 per cent of its liquid fuel. When costs rise, regional communities—already at the end of their long supply chains—are hit hardest and fastest. David, the CEO of West Wimmera Shire, has made it clear to me that skyrocketing fuel and bitumen costs are forcing council to defer desperately needed road maintenance. Bitumen prices have surged as much as 35 to 40 per cent, creating a road safety crisis. Regional councils are already financially stressed, and in Victoria the condition of regional roads is, frankly indefensible. Potholes stretch as far as the eye can see.

Delaying repairs increases risk, putting motorists, freight operators, emergency vehicles and school buses—and, therefore, human lives—in danger every single day. Regional Australians should not be asked to accept unsafe roads because local governments cannot afford the fuel and materials required to fix them, yet that is exactly what is happening and the fallout does not stop with council services.

In West Wimmera, people live vast distances from essential services. There is no free public transport—thank you to the premier. Rising fuel costs and a lack of fuel are forcing pensioners, volunteers and families to make impossible choices. Leanne from Kaniva told me:

I have had to cancel an appointment … because I can't get diesel from our local roadhouse, for tests that can only be done in Horsham.

She was referring to medical care. West Wimmera Shire Council has told me that people across their region are pulling back from community sport and stepping away from volunteering roles. (Time expired)