The Carroll Labor Government is so desperate to avoid responsibility for Victoria's crumbling roads that it is now claiming some residents prefer potholes, while blaming councils and the weather for the state's crumbling road network.
Labor MP Sonja Terpstra claimed residents on one street did not want their road resurfaced, and that:
"...Funnily enough in regard to that road, it is the residents who do not want it resealed, because they do not like traffic going down it, so they are quite happy to have it full of potholes, might I add. So not everyone is on board with your pothole thing; they actually like it full of potholes."
Shadow Minister for Local Government Bev McArthur said the comments exposed a government more interested in making excuses than fixing the problem.
"After more than a decade in office, Labor is blaming everyone except itself for the shocking state of Victoria's roads."
"Victorians don't want excuses. They want roads that are safe to drive on, not MPs claiming people prefer potholes.
"While roads across Victoria continue to fall apart, Labor has allowed billions of dollars to be lost to corruption on Big Build projects. That is money that could have been spent repairing roads, fixing potholes and investing in the infrastructure communities rely on.
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety Danny O'Brien said it was indisputable that Victorian roads were appalling and in dire need of repair.
"For a member of the government to suggest Victorians do not want roads resurfaced shows how out of touch Labor is when it comes to what Victorians are crying out for," Mr O'Brien said.
"Only a Wilson-O'Brien Liberal and Nationals Government will eliminate one million potholes through a $5 billion investment to repair and rebuild Victoria's roads, while guaranteeing that 25 per cent of infrastructure spending is invested in regional Victoria as part of our Fair Share Guarantee."
