Federal Minister asked to assess WA's road funding needs

5/5/93

Federal Transport Minister Bob Collins has been invited to Western Australia to assess at first-hand the need for increased Commonwealth road funding.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton, who met Senator Collins in Canberra this morning, said he hoped the Federal Minister would make the trip to inspect specific roads.

Last month, Mr Charlton criticised the Federal Government over its Commonwealth/State road funding formula because it worked against the less populous States like WA.

Although WA is responsible for maintaining 25 per cent of the country's national highway system, its share of funding from the Commonwealth has slipped from 18 per cent in 1968-69 to 8.4 per cent.

WA is facing a funding shortfall of up to $50 million in its 1993-94 allocation from the Commonwealth.

Mr Charlton said WA accounted for 10 per cent of the national population, 10 per cent of national fuel consumption and 10 per cent of the total number of kilometres travelled.

"Based on those figures alone, our share of the Federal road funding pool should not fall below 10 per cent," he said.

"The Commonwealth allocates about $800 million a year to the States for road works, and each one per cent reduction means a financial loss of $8 million.

"At today's meeting, I impressed upon Senator Collins the need to look seriously at WA's declining share of Federal road funds.

"I hope I was able to convince him of the very real maintenance, safety and funding issues confronting our road system.

"As a parliamentarian from the Northern Territory, it was clear Senator Collins empathised with WA's situation as far as remoteness contributing to the high cost of road works."

Among the priorities listed to Senator Collins were major improvement works to Great Eastern Highway between Coolgardie and Northam, to cost $30 million over five years, and reconstruction of a section of Great Northern Highway in the Bow River area.

They were in addition to the current road projects already in place throughout the State.

"However, I told Senator Collins that Great Eastern and Great Northern Highways were not only important to the State's economy because they were major freight routes, but they were also vital to the national economy," Mr Charlton said.

"In the case of Great Eastern Highway, Senator Collins accepted our view that it was the major road artery across the continent.

"The upgrading of this highway is all the more urgent when you consider that road trains will begin using the Coolgardie-Northam section at the end of this month, placing even greater pressure on the highway."

Mr Charlton said Main Roads would now provide the Federal Department of Transport with further specific details supporting the State's argument for additional funding.

This would be in addition to Main Roads' earlier submission to Canberra on funding.

Media contact: Dean Roberts 321 7333/222 9595