The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) welcomes the reappointment of Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, as the Minister for Infrastructure, and says the decision underlines the Government’s priority focus on infrastructure.

Allocating Ministerial responsibility for infrastructure, roads and transport to the second-highest office holder in government is a big win for motorists who are looking forward to the re-elected Government rolling out its transport infrastructure agenda,” said the AAA’s Chief Executive, Michael Bradley.

Mr Bradley said the AAA also welcomed the the elevation into Cabinet of Alan Tudge as Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population.

“Two voices at the Cabinet table, through Michael McCormack and Alan Tudge, who have a large focus on transport infrastructure is an appropriate demonstration of the priorities facing motorists and commuters across Australia”, he said.

Mr Bradley said the government’s focus on an emissions’ policy was also welcomed with Angus Taylor adding emissions reduction to his current responsibility as energy minister.

Earlier this year, the AAA welcomed the Federal Budget’s much-needed $29.6 billion “investment injection” in transport infrastructure, as well as the Government’s commitment to invest more than half of fuel excise into land transport infrastructure.

“The Government now has a mandate to deliver on that investment injection and the AAA looks forward to working with the government to deliver those outcomes,” Mr Bradley said.

Mr Bradley said in the lead-up to election day the Coalition had responded in detail to the AAA’s election policy platform. This agenda represented the national position of its state and territory clubs – the NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAC, RAA, RACT and AANT – which represent eight million members.

In the coming months the Federal Government will also establish a National Office of Road Safety. The AAA has championed this move and welcomes the Government’s commitment as the new office will provide a ‘laser focus’ on road safety initiatives.

“The National Office of Road Safety will be supported by a significant increase in funding for the Black Spot and Road to Recovery programs,” Mr Bradley said.

“In electorates across Australia, the AAA ran a ‘My Money. My Transport.’ campaign that facilitated almost 250 thousand individual messages to candidates about local transport priorities. Responses to the campaign showed that metropolitan residents rated congestion their number one transport priority, while people in the regions were most concerned about road safety.”

Mr Bradley said once the new Parliament was sworn in, the AAA would work with all Members of Parliament and Senators to draw attention to the major transport issues in their electorates.

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Media contact:
Jake Smith
0403 466 153
​[email protected]

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The Australian Automobile Association is the nation’s peak motoring body, representing Australia’s state-based motoring clubs and their 8 million members.  The AAA is an apolitical and technology-neutral advocate for federal transport policy that improves safety, affordability, and mobility.