Labor accused of playing pothole politics

By Pip Turton

Jun 5, 2025

The timing of a roads hearing has sparked backlash amid budget cuts in Victoria. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The Allan Government faces criticism for scheduling a crucial roads hearing on the eve of the King’s Birthday long weekend, with opposition members claiming it is an attempt to avoid public scrutiny.

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Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne is set to appear before the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee for a one-hour session starting at 5:55pm on Friday, June 6.

The 2025-26 state budget reveals significant cuts to road maintenance targets, with regional Victoria facing a 93 per cent reduction in road patching and outer metropolitan Melbourne seeing an 89 per cent decrease.

Road resurfacing targets in regional areas have dropped to 2.7 million square metres, down 14 per cent from previous targets.

“The Allan Labor Government only has bad news on roads for regional Victorians, and is attempting to avoid scrutiny by burying Labor’s rubbish in a PAEC hearing late on Friday, right before the King’s Birthday long weekend,” state Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said.

“Unfortunately for Labor, this tactic won’t work because people driving into the regions for the long weekend will be dodging potholes and cursing the Labor government all the way to their destination.”