A Rebecca White Labor Government will deliver better roads and infrastructure around Tasmania – starting with our big plans for the Bass Highway.
We’ll invest an additional $40 million into road maintenance, to get rid of the potholes that have been plaguing the Bass Highway, and to improve safety around the state.
Labor will also invest $50 million in the first stage of a 10 Year Action Plan for the Bass Highway. This long-term vision will focus on increasing safety and reducing travel times by duplicating more stretches of the highway, and will be funded in partnership with the Federal government.
We will also develop 10 Year Action Plans for the Tasman and Huon Highways.
But Labor knows the most important part of our roads network is the people building them, and the people driving on them – and it’s why we’ll make a record investment in road safety, heavy vehicle driver development and licencing, transport industry workforce development and civil construction training.
Labor will invest $5 million in heavy vehicle rest areas around the state – with the first at Epping Forest.
We will invest $250,000 to support 300 Tasmanians to get their heavy vehicle licenses, and we’ll work with industry to embed licensing capability within the industry.
We’ll partner with TTA and RAW, to continue the Open Road program, improving the physical and mental health of the transport workforce.
We’ll partner with the RACT in a Youth Driver Training program, act to combat speeding and unsafe driving, and invest $2 million into improving rail crossing safety.
These investments will be complemented by a $700,000 commitment to the Your Speed is Our Safety campaign to keep those who work on our roads safe too.
We will fund the construction and operation of a Live Works Training Park at Quercus Park to help train the additional 667 Plant and Machinery Operators needed by 2027 to complete Tasmania’s infrastructure pipeline.
And we’ll extend the High Vis Army program, which provides vital training and mentoring to people getting into the industry, especially women and people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we’ll bring an end to the endless delays and cost blowouts that have become so common after 10 years of the Liberals.
Labor will establish a new Project Management Office, to ensure projects are properly planned, costed, sequenced and scheduled.
After 10 years of the Liberals, Tasmanians are still waiting for long-promised infrastructure projects and upgrades.
It’s time for a better future. Labor will deliver on the projects we commit to – working with the Federal Government to upgrade Tasmanian roads and keep Tasmanians safe.
Quote attributable to Transport Workers’ Union State Secretary, Mem Suleyman:
“Today’s announcement is exactly what the Tasmanian transport industry needed after years of neglect.
“We’re thrilled that Tasmania Labor has listened to transport workers, and we are confident that if these historic election commitments are implemented in full under a Rebecca White Government, the transport industry in Tasmania will thrive and grow stronger into the future.”
Rebecca White MP
Tasmanian Labor Leader
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure