Qld govt backs road safety reform

THE Queensland state government has agreed to share with the Commonwealth and the public previously undisclosed data relating to the causes of road accidents, traffic policing, and the condition of its roads in a bid to help tackle the growing road toll.

The move has been welcomed by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) which says the move will compel other states to follow suit by linking the $10 billion yearly federal road grants to an obligation to publish their road safety data.

“The road toll is rising by as much as 25 per cent a year in some states, and road safety data – particularly data telling us the actual causes of crashes – should be public so it can be used to create more effective road safety policies,” said AAA managing director Michael Bradley.

“I congratulate the Queensland government for its common-sense approach. If other states take the same position, this will be Australia’s most important safety reform for decades.”

Speaking on ABC radio this week, Queensland transport minister Bart Mellish said, “I am really keen to get as much of that information out there as we can; really keen to provide whatever we’ve got on our books from Department of Transport and Main Roads to the federal government and to anyone who it helps”.

The AAA says it has campaigned “for years” for state and territory governments to release road crash causality data and data related to the effectiveness of police traffic enforcement but that so far all have “refused to budge”.

“We now call on federal transport minister Catherine King to require other Australian states to follow Queensland’s lead,” added Mr Bradley.

“This should not be difficult because just four days before the last federal election, Minister King said she would work with states to ‘extract better-quality road safety data from states and territories in return for funding of road projects.

“This road safety issue is too important to be a voluntary opt-in. Australians deserve to see data so they can be assured that governments are investing public money where it can save lives.

“As long as the secrecy continues, Australians will have no way of understanding whether their politicians are investing in roads to save lives or curry favour in marginal electorates.”

Mr Bradley said the Commonwealth should establish an accountability requirement for states in the next National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects, which is now under negotiation and due to take effect on July 1.

Last year, 1266 people died on Australian roads, an increase of 7.3 per cent from 2022. The road toll has been rising in recent years despite the nation adopting a target to halve road deaths by the end of the decade.

Australian road fatalities by year (2013-2023):