Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator McCarthy. The Albanese Labor government has a plan to lower speed limits in regional Australia and is currently consulting on this. The consultation documents clearly state speed reduction reform options include sealed roads going down to 70 kilometres per hour and unsealed roads down to 70 kilometres per hour. On 31 October 2025, the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Minister McBain, was asked by the ABC Ballarat reporter:

Even if this got up with the 70km limit, this would not apply to highways and well used country roads that have a speed limit of 100 already, would it?

Minister McBain replied:

No, this is all around those unsealed … roads.

Minister, isn't it a fact the government's consultation includes lowering speed limits on all sealed roads, and why did Minister McBain mislead the people of regional Victoria?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question. We do know that each state and territory makes laws in regard to what their roads are going to be about in terms of speed limits and in terms of the funding that they wish to put into those roads. We know that, under Labor, regional Australia is firmly getting its fair share, and we're investing in safer roads, stronger local economies and fairer funding for every community. I know the ministers of the Albanese Labor government are doing their utmost—both the minister I represent in Catherine King and Minister McBain—to ensure safer roads across Australia.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Sullivan, first supplementary?

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was only asking about the consultation, but anyway—was the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories unaware of the details of the government's consultation process prior to speaking to ABC Ballarat, or are the government deliberately seeking to mislead regional Australians about their plans to lower speeds on sealed and unsealed country roads? A very precise question, Minister.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question. I will say this: in terms of Minister McBain and her many interviews, I am more than happy to seek some further advice from the minister in regard to Ballarat.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Sullivan, second supplementary?

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. When the lower speed limit proposal was put to the former coalition government, we didn't implement it. So why is the government now proposing to reduce regional speed limits instead of just fixing the roads?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I certainly have spoken in the Senate, even as early as last the Thursday with regard to question time, about our investment in roads and regional roads across Australia, but I am more than happy to take the advice of the minister and get back to you, Senator.