Labor Scuttles Away From Speed Limit Plan After Public Backlash
The Federal Labor Government has sculked away from further work on its controversial proposal to reduce default speed limits on open regional roads in a move that has intensified scrutiny of its approach to road safety and regional infrastructure.
Federal Member for Durack, Melissa Price MP, said the Government’s behaviour amounted to “crab-walking away from an idea it should never have entertained,” adding that she had been raising concerns about the proposal from the outset. “I’ve been fighting hard on this issue because it was clear from day one that this proposal made no sense for regional Australia,” she said.
Ms Price also expressed appreciation for the public response to the consultation process. “I want to thank everyone who took the time to send a submission or share their concerns. When people stand together and speak up, we can achieve real outcomes,” she said.
According to the Communique from the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting on 21 November 2025, ministers acknowledged widespread community feedback on the proposed reductions, initially outlined in a Regulatory Impact Analysis by the Department of Infrastructure. The proposal canvassed lowering default limits from 100 km/h to 90, 80 or even 70 km/h an idea rejected in more than 11,000 submissions.
Critics argued the measure represented a “lazy” alternative to meaningful investment in regional road maintenance. Ms Price echoed this, stating: “Reducing a speed limit doesn’t fill a single pothole or strengthen a single bridge.” She said the Government’s attempt to quietly shelve the proposal after months of public frustration failed to address the underlying neglect of regional infrastructure. “Regional Australians deserve real solutions, not more bureaucracy from Canberra,” she said.
Concerns have also been raised about significant reductions to Commonwealth support for major road programs, including:
• Cuts to the Commonwealth contribution for regional road projects from 80% to 50%;
• The scheduled end of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program on 1 July 2026;
• The abolition of the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative.
Ms Price said these funding decisions, paired with the abandoned speed-limit proposal, created “a troubling picture of neglect,” adding: “If the Government is serious about road safety, it needs to invest not cut corners or funding.”
The withdrawal of the proposal is widely seen as a signal that Australians expect practical, properly funded road-safety initiatives instead of measures that slow communities down while failing to fix dangerous road conditions. Ms Price emphasised: “Safety comes from maintaining and upgrading roads, not from blanket speed reductions that paper over deeper problems.”
Ms Price reiterated that effective road-safety policy must be grounded in proper maintenance, upgrades and long-term planning: “Shifting the burden onto road users won’t solve anything.”
Ends.