Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Labor’s election pitch of a massive funding injection into Bruce Highway upgrades “will save lives”.
Beginning his pre-election campaign blitz, Mr Albanese announced on Monday $7.2 billion of funding, which will see his government cover 80 per cent of the highway’s upgrades.
Upgrades will raise the highway’s safety level to three stars – a system that grades road safety out of five stars.
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On Monday, the PM said the 2025 election would be “a clear choice [between] Labor building Australia’s future, or a Coalition determined to return Australia backwards and costing more under Peter Dutton”, before explaining the reason behind the announcement.
“Someone said to me, ‘Why you are making the first announcement of this year in the electorate of White Bay? It’s not a target seat’,” Mr Albanese said.
“That’s because I’m determined to represent all Australians regardless of where they live.”
Already in 2025, two fatalities in an accident have been recorded, following the 41 deaths recorded in 2024.
“That’s why this is a priority, that’s why we’re singling out this highway above all others to receive 80 per cent funding rather than the 50 per cent that is standard,” Mr Albanese said.
Bruce Highway services around 62 per cent of Queensland’s population and is the primary link between Cairns and Brisbane, connecting regional cities including Bundaberg, Mackay, Rockhampton and Townsville.