16 News

An elected Dutton Coalition Government will take decisive action to reverse Australia’s worsening road safety crisis, with a comprehensive package of measures to make our road network safer and more productive for all Australians. 

A Coalition Government is committing: 

$250 million increase to the Roads to Recovery program, immediately lifting funding to $1 billion per year commencing 2025-26, helping local governments maintain and upgrade safer local roads;  

$10 million to establish a new Driver Reviver Site Upgrades program, supporting volunteer and community organisations to improve existing driver reviver rest stops and establish new ones; and 

$6 million over three years to expand the scope of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to oversee a national no-fault crash investigation pilot, to better understand the root causes of crashes and identify mitigation strategies.  

Recent data from the Australian Automobile Association shows that 2024 was the deadliest year on Australian roads since 2012. The objective of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30 is to halve road deaths, yet the road toll last year was 18.5 per cent higher than when the strategy began.  

Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, said improving road safety was critical.  

“In 2021, the Coalition Government led the development of a National Road Safety Strategy in partnership with all states and territories, to reduce road trauma and save lives. Yet, in recent years, road fatalities have steadily increased. Australia is now further from achieving the Strategy’s goals than ever before. Our roads are deteriorating, and the consequences are devastating. 

“Last year alone, 1,300 Australians lost their lives on the road. Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy, and behind every statistic is a grieving family and a devastated community. 

“As we head into the Easter long weekend, this is a timely reminder for everyone to please stay safe on the roads.” 

Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Mr Tony Pasin MP, said Australia’s road safety crisis required national leadership. 

“Under our plan, we will make road safety a priority and gain a better understanding of the causes behind the alarming trend towards year on year increases in road deaths.,” Mr Pasin said.   

“We have listened to the community and road safety experts, and we will set the wheels of change in motion to arrest the rising road toll and get the National Road Safety Strategy back on track.”  

A Dutton Coalition Government will act decisively to reduce road trauma, support local infrastructure, and restore national leadership on road safety.

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will deliver $2.6 million over four years to Street Side Medics.

Street Side Medics is a free mobile GP service that provides health services to people experiencing homelessness across New South Wales and Victoria.

Since 2022-23, the organisation has delivered 902 clinics, more than 5,050 GP consultations and had more than 11,780 total patient interactions.

They deliver services including health examinations, immunisations, pathology services, nutritional advice and minor surgical procedures.

This election commitment will provide Street Side Medics additional funding to continue delivering mobile medical services in NSW and Victoria across Woolloomooloo, Manly, Parramatta, Hornsby, Blacktown, Surry Hills, Marrickville, Wollongong, Melbourne CBD and St Kilda.

It will also support the organisation to expand to new locations, strengthen existing services to meet rising demand and invest in workforce development.

Homelessness is the tough reality for too many Australians. The Albanese Labor Government is making meaningful progress in tackling it. Among our measures is the $9.3 billion, 5-year National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness.

This provides funding to the states to help those who are either experiencing or at risk of homelessness and supports the effective functioning of Australia’s social housing and homelessness services sectors.

Consistent with past practice, election commitments will be delivered in line with the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“I was given the great privilege of launching Street Side Medics in Melbourne in 2024.

“This program began with Dr Nour and his vision to ensure people who are experiencing homelessness don’t fall through the cracks and miss out on the healthcare they need.

“So much stems from the barriers that stand between homeless people and access to medical care. Barriers that span the spectrum from cost, to lack of awareness, to mistrust of the medical system.

“Street Side Medics erase those barriers. I am so proud to announce Labor will deliver $2.6 million to ensure these vital services continue.”
 
Health Minister Mark Butler:

“Street Side Medics has provided medical support for people experiencing homelessness for years.

“Their vans provide mobile medical services, and they do a fantastic job. 

“Labor is proud to support the incredible work of Dr Nour and his team of hundreds of volunteers who provide care to those facing disadvantage.”

Dr Daniel Nour, Founder of Street Side Medics: 

“I founded Street Side Medics with a simple belief: that no one should be denied healthcare because of their circumstances. Today’s announcement allows us to carry that mission even further. 

“Healthcare access should never be a privilege. This funding ensures that thousands of vulnerable Australians can receive the care they deserve, right where they are. 

“We’re deeply grateful to the Albanese Labor Government for recognising that health equity is a national priority – this support will help us change and save lives.”

Our festival sector is in turmoil. The cost of living crisis, skyrocketing cost of insurance and the impacts of extreme weather events caused by climate change have been wreaking havoc on festivals big and small across Australia.

Festivals have long been the beating heart of the local music industry and are essential to growing audiences for Australian artists.

Festivals are not only important for our arts and music industry but also support local tourism, hospitality and retail businesses.

The Greens will allocate $20 million a year to provide a critical lifeline to Australian festivals.

The Greens will fight for:

• $20 million a year in grants for festivals, including higher maximum grants and the ability to use funds for developing on-site infrastructure, from within the Greens’ $200m per year Arts funding commitment;
• $2m for a review to investigate the market failure of insurance in the live music industry and options to establish a government backed insurance scheme
• The creation of a festivals strategy through Music Australia to ensure federal and state government coordination and support
• Tax offsets for touring artists and venues that host live performances
  • 10 per cent tax offsets for the costs of hosting live music
  • 50 per cent tax offset for travel expenses
• Support that can benefit small businesses running festivals with the establishment of a small business incubator and extension of the $20,000 instant asset write-off until July 1 2026

The package will have a particular focus on supporting local and independent festivals and is part of the broader arts package already launched by the Greens.

Quotes attributable to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for the Arts:

“Our festivals are in crisis. Over the past few years we have seen the cancellation after cancellation of loved and iconic festivals. It’s clear that the government needs to step in to help the industry.

“The Albanese Government made some big promises to the arts industry when they were first elected, almost 3 years on they have failed to deliver. A plan for the arts is nothing without the funding required to support the industry.

“The Greens plan for supporting our festivals takes a holistic view of what the sector needs. This means direct support in the form of grants, a review of the market failure in insurance for live events, a federal strategy for the sustainability of festivals across the country into the future and tax offsets for both venues and artists.

“Festivals are an essential part of the music ecosystem and an important part of our culture. It’s how Australian artists build new audiences that help set up their careers and it’s how young people build a love for live music.

“Festivals matter, they particularly bring our regions, like the Northern Rivers, to life. Festivals inject money and enthusiasm into our local communities from the cities to the regions.

“I am excited to be making this announcement at Bluesfest, an iconic Australian festival and a great example of how investment in the arts drives local, regional economies.

“The Greens always have been and always will be the party for the arts. This election, to support our arts and creative industries you have to vote Green.”

Greens spokesperson for communications, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responds to reports the Prime Minister personally intervened to prevent action on gambling advertising.

“The Albanese Government has failed to act on the scourge of gambling ads, despite the pleading of their own backbenchers and even their own Communications Minister.

“Today’s news that the Prime Minister personally intervened to protect the gambling lobby is disturbing. The Prime Minister may not have the guts to stand up to the gambling lobby – but the Greens will act.

“Throughout this term of parliament, the Greens offered a number of times to facilitate the passage of legislation to ban gambling ads. In a minority government it will be a key ask of the Greens in any negotiations.

“As families have sat down to watch the footy over the long weekend, they have continued to be bombarded by gambling ads despite the mountain of evidence we have been given about how dangerous these ads are.

“Peta Murphy, was right, the experts and the evidence are clear: gambling ads do significant harm and they must be banned immediately, just like tobacco ads.”