The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says local football and netball clubs across regional Victoria can now apply for a share of $600,000 to improve their club as part of an annual road safety rewards grants program.
Mr Walsh says the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has kicked off this year’s TAC Club Rewards program, which encourages local clubs to promote road safety to members during the season.
An important message he agrees must be delivered to young people as half Victoria’s 128 road deaths this year have been in regional areas – which only represent about 25 per cent of the state’s population.
The TAC program allows AFL Victoria-affiliated football and netball clubs to apply for as much as $10,000 to spend on club initiatives including club transport, new equipment and uniforms or facility upgrades.
“Unfortunately, the irony of this TAC program will probably be lost on Premier Jacinta Allan and her government as it is their funding cuts and total lack of interest in regional Victoria which is behind the appalling deterioration of our road network,” Mr Walsh explains.
“The latest data available show things have gotten so bad under the Allan Labor government that 91 per cent of roads across the state are now classified as being in ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ condition,” he says.
“As part of this year’s TAC program, clubs will be asked to start conversations and be part of the campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding, with the tagline – ‘Show up for your team. Slow down on the road’.
“It is a valuable message which must be heard, road safety is paramount for all our sporting teams, not just footballers and netballers, who travel vast distances on our crumbling roads each week to attend training and games.
“And The Nationals will continue to campaign to have that funding restored to improve the quality, and safety, of our road surfaces – a Liberals Nationals government will make it a priority.”
More information on the Club Rewards Program can be found at tac.vic.gov.au/about-the-tac/community/grants/tac-club-rewards-program.
Applications close on August 25.