Independents call for more accountability in road funding
Several independent politicians – including six sitting MPs, a senator and some first-time candidates – have pledged their support for Australian motoring clubs’ My Safety Counts campaign.
Each of them has told the AAA that federal road funding should be based on rules that enhance accountability and reduce the risk of politically motivated funding decisions.
Independent MPs Monique Ryan (Kooyong VIC), Helen Haines (Indi VIC), Zoe Daniel (Goldstein VIC), Andrew Wilkie (Clark TAS), Sophie Scamps (Mackellar NSW) and Bob Katter (Kennedy QLD) said they agreed state governments should be required to provide safety ratings for individual sections of roads when applying for federal road funding.
Independent Senator David Pocock (ACT) has also backed My Safety Counts.
In addition, independent candidates Alex Dyson (Wannon VIC), Caz Heise (Cowper), Sue Chapman (Forrest WA), Paddy Moylan (Whitlam NSW) and Verity Cooper (Sturt SA) have also pledged their support.
Kooyong MP Monique Ryan told the AAA via email that she was happy to support the campaign.
“It’s a great initiative which fits well with both my interest in road safety and health and my interest in transparency around government spending.”