Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Sam Farraway was forced to make an embarrassing revelation today that not one single kilometre of road has been transferred under the key 2019 Liberals and Nationals Commitment to reclassify and transfer 15,000 kilometres of roads.

Under intense questioning, a red-faced Minister could not bring himself to say the words “it is zero”, despite it being clear that zero roads have been transferred under the program.

The Minister dashed the hopes of regional motorists and cash strapped regional councils that the glacial roll out of the program would be sped up, saying the Government’s key 2019 election commitment is “not a burning topic” amongst regional Councils.

The Minister also cast doubt on whether the full complement of 15,000km promised would be transferred, repeatedly stating that the policy was “up to” 15,000 km.

Concerningly, in light of the revelations of the ICAC’s Investigation into pork barrelling (Operation Jersey), the Minister refused to outline what criteria he would use to implement any recommendations of the Independent Panel to identify which roads would be reclassified or transferred under the program.  Former Roads Minister Pavey and other Government MPs stood at regional roads in the lead up to the 2019 election promising they would be reclassified or transferred under the policy.

To date, not one km of roads has been transferred.

Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the Minister’s evidence confirmed that the Regional Roads Transfer and Road Classification Review promise was a cynical attempt to pork barrel regional communities. 

"The sting in the tail, is that the Government hasn’t even spent the money it had committed to the policy.”

“This was a “magic pudding” election promise, every Nationals and Liberal candidate could point to a potential road in their electorate which could be eligible for reclassification or transfer, and the Government still, nearly four years later, hasn’t transferred as single one of them.”

“What’s worse, after numerous questions Transport bureaucrats were unable to even confirm a dollar or kilometre figure for policy in 2022/23 and over the forwards. For a signature promise, this is astounding.”

“I have held round tables all across the state with many stakeholders and the government’s failure to deliver on this important program is certainly a high priority for all regional communities.”

“I’ve had conversations with Councils across the state who wanted to apply but thought they were ineligible as a regional city, yet today the Minister has admitted that a Sydney road was approved under a so-called “business as usual” reclassification.

“One thing is for sure, under this Government, business as usual is putting the city before the regions, every time.”

The link to the clip is here: https://we.tl/t-4STyTK2IlZ