Source : Perth Now news
Victorians will be able to track pothole repairs and supervised prisoners will be put to work under a Labor election pledge to take back control of road maintenance.
After earmarking an extra $352 million to fix half a million potholes, Premier Ben Carroll on Monday unveiled a series of supplementary solutions to repair Victoria’s crumbling roads.
If Victorian Labor is re-elected for a historic fourth term in November, Mr Carroll has vowed to develop a plan to put government back in charge of state road maintenance rather than relying on privatised arrangements.
He has flagged the creation of a website where motorists can upload pictures and report dangerous potholes along with other road issues, then monitor where and when repairs are planned.
Labor plans to enlist supervised minimum-security prisoners to carry out basic roadside maintenance such as mowing lawns, controlling weeds, removing graffiti and picking up rubbish.
If deemed safe, the mooted pilot program would allow more skilled crews to get on with fixing potholes, the government said.
Other proposed moves include statewide road quality and safety standards, making it easier for motorists to claim compensation when the standards are not met and allowing Victoria’s five road maintenance regions to prioritise local repairs.
“This is a big change and it’s not just about money,” Mr Carroll said in a statement.
“My new direction is all about taking responsibility for your safety and being transparent with your services.
“In 2026, it should be easier to see what repairs are planned and raise road problems quickly.”
In July, the coalition pledged to boost spending 25 per cent to $5 billion over four years to repair and rebuild Victoria’s roads, including eliminating one million potholes.
Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said Labor had neglected roads for 12 years.
Labor’s road-busting pitch comes as One Nation prepares to launch an energy policy in the Latrobe Valley on Monday morning.
Under an agreement between EnergyAustralia and the Victorian government, the region’s Yallourn Power Station is scheduled to close in mid-2028.
At a Farmers Fightback event at Marnoo in Victoria’s Wimmera region on Saturday night, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson pushed the plunger on a pretend TNT detonator to start a bonfire with a sign to “scrap VNI West” – a high-voltage transmission line project.
She also hammered an oversized nail into a “net zero” emblazoned coffin before walking it out of the venue with Barnaby Joyce, who used a tractor to dump a load of dirt on the casket.
