Media Release | 30 July 2025
Hon. Julie Freeman MLC
Shadow Minister for Road Safety
Shadow Minister for Road Safety and Nationals MLC Julie Freeman has criticised the Cook Labor Government’s recent road safety funding boost as “too little, too late” and warned that lives will continue to be lost without immediate, targeted action.
“I welcome the road improvements announced by the Minister for Transport today. These are much-needed projects that will reduce the likelihood of crashes and avoidable deaths,” Ms Freeman said.
“But let’s be clear, this is not new money. Many of these works were already budgeted and planned. The Cook Government is simply repackaging old announcements in a desperate attempt to appear responsive to the unfolding crisis.”
Ms Freeman said the current road safety crisis is a direct result of nearly a decade of neglect.
“While billions have been funnelled into Metronet, critical safety upgrades—especially on dangerous regional roads—have been left behind. Now, the consequences of that neglect are all too clear. The 2025 road toll is already tracking toward record levels not seen since 2008 and Western Australians are paying with their lives.”
Ms Freeman warned that infrastructure alone won’t deliver the urgent impact Western Australia needs.
“Road upgrades are important, but they take years to deliver—and this Government has a history of leaving projects incomplete. Western Australians shouldn’t have to wait years for safer roads. They need action now.”
Ms Freeman is calling for an immediate, high-visibility blitz on road safety, starting with investment in people.
“We need people to create hard-hitting education campaigns that change driver behaviour, people to teach the next generation to be better, safer drivers, and people to enforce the rules and hold dangerous drivers to account.”
“These are the proven, effective strategies that can be rolled out today—and they are the actions the Cook Government must take if it is serious about saving lives tomorrow.”
Ms Freeman said regional WA, where the road toll is disproportionately high, must be at the centre of any genuine road safety strategy.
“Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy. Every one of them is a wake-up call. The road toll is not just a number. It represents families shattered, communities grieving, and futures stolen.”
“We cannot afford more delay, more spin, or more repackaged announcements. The Cook Labor Government must act—Western Australians deserve nothing less.”
ENDS
