RACQ has welcomed a $7.2 billion commitment from the Australian government to upgrade the Bruce Highway, a vital transport route in Queensland.
The funding, part of an 80:20 federal-state co-funding model, includes $1.8 billion from Queensland. It aims to improve safety and strengthen the highway’s resilience against extreme weather events such as floods and cyclones.
Planned upgrades include shoulder widening, additional barriers, and intersection improvements. The initiative will also focus on reducing disruptions caused by extreme weather, which often isolates regional communities.
The highway has been a focus of RACQ’s “Fix the Bruce” campaign, which called for more federal investment to address its safety record.
RACQ CEO David Carter said the funding is a step toward reducing fatalities and ensuring the highway meets minimum safety standards.
“Right now, Queenslanders are three to five times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash on the Bruce Highway compared to the Pacific Highway in New South Wales and Hume Highway in Victoria. It’s simply not fair,” he said.
RACQ has been joined by groups such as the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, Queensland Trucking Association, and the Local Government Association of Queensland in pushing for increased federal funding. These efforts highlighted the highway’s disproportionate share of road fatalities, given its relatively small portion of Queensland’s road network.
Commenting on calls for increased federal funding, Carter emphasised that the Bruce Highway represents less than 1% of the state’s road but accounts for over 10% of Queensland’s road toll.
“When New South Wales and Victoria had their major national highways fixed, the federal government covered at least 80% of the funding needed, now it’s the Bruce’s turn for serious funding,” he said.
The funding announcement comes as Queensland experiences a rise in road fatalities, with 302 deaths recorded in 2024 – the highest total since 2009. RACQ attributed many of these fatalities to preventable behaviours such as speeding, drink driving, and drug use.
RACQ’s head of public policy, Dr Michael Kane, said stronger enforcement and new road safety measures are urgently needed.
“The confronting reality is the vast majority of fatal crashes involve poor driver behaviour,” he said. “Speeding, drink driving, and drug driving are the top killers on our roads, and we need strong and urgent law reform to curb this alarming trend and improve our road safety culture.”
RACQ plans to work closely with the state government to implement public education campaigns and advocate for reforms that target dangerous driving behaviours.
