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Funding for Queensland’s Bruce Highway brings hope for improved safety
ABC NEWS (Australia)
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1/7/2025
For those who use the Bruce Highway along Queensland’s coast, the threat to life and livelihoods is a daily challenge. The federal government’s funding pledge is fuelling hope improved safety might finally happen.
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00:00
From Brisbane to Cairns, the Bruce Highway links Queensland, vital to communities, tourism
00:09
and trade. But much of it is unsafe, with more than 40 lives lost last year alone.
00:16
Every life lost is a life too many.
00:18
Leyland Barnett is a driving instructor who's grieving his much-loved niece Emily. She died
00:24
on the highway south of Rockhampton in 2020.
00:28
She had her whole life in front of her. She was only 21 years old when she passed away.
00:33
Drivers are three to five times more likely to be killed or maimed on the Bruce Highway
00:39
than on major roads in southern states. Its safety rating is abysmal.
00:44
Almost 45% of the Bruce Highway only has a two-star rating.
00:49
Labor says its additional $7.2 billion pledge will lift all of it to at least three out
00:55
of five stars.
00:57
This will improve safety and will make an enormous difference to the lives of Queenslanders
01:04
and all who visit.
01:05
Anything like that that's going to help with our public safety is a great thing.
01:09
About time.
01:11
Priority sections of the 1700 kilometre thoroughfare are Meribah to Benarrabee, Rockhampton to
01:18
St Lawrence, Bowen to Townsville and Ingham to Innisfail. But it won't happen overnight.
01:24
The reality is the Bruce Highway getting to three stars is estimated to take seven
01:29
years so from this year through to 2032.
01:32
Flood proofing is also urgent.
01:34
In the most decentralised state in the country, that is absolutely fundamental to making sure
01:41
all of our communities are replenished.
01:43
The announcement is a return to the 80-20 funding split between the Commonwealth and state.
01:49
The Bruce Highway is a national embarrassment, it is a death trap and this is a step towards
01:56
resuming what should always be the case and that is the federal government carrying the
02:00
lion's share of the money.
02:01
But the federal opposition has so far stopped short of committing to the plan.
02:07
We want to see the timeline in particular and as we look at that we'll come to a view
02:12
as to whether or not we support the way forward.
02:14
A long road ahead for those needing to travel safely.
02:19
For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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1:05
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