The 2025-26 Federal Budget has left South Australia’s regional road network high and dry, according to the RAA.  

The state’s peak motoring body has welcomed the funds flowing to complete the North South Corridor and $125 million for the Curtis Road Level Crossing removal project announced in the 2025-26 Federal Budget, but remains concerned about the lack of funding for regional roads.  

The Federal Budget failed to deliver: 

• Funding to progress the Adelaide Hills Freight Bypass or progress the duplication of the Augusta Highway and other critical regional corridors like the Sturt and Dukes Highway.
• Funding to help address South Australia’s $2 billion road maintenance backlog.
• The continuation of $20 million in grants to fix regional local government roads.
• A commitment to deliver fair and equitable motoring tax reform to replace the declining fuel excise.  

RAA Chief Executive Officer Nick Reade says the Federal Government must invest in South Australia’s regional road network if South Australia is to reach the targets set out in the nation’s Road Safety Strategy to 2031. 

“Unfortunately, there’s no money allocated in the Federal Budget to fix these potentially dangerous regional roads.  

“The Augusta Highway recorded 43 deaths and 319 injures (97 serious and 222 minor) between 2014-2023 – making it one of the most dangerous regional corridors in South Australia. 

“These three key regional corridors are also essential to help freight move around, not only South Australia, but Australia.  

He says Federal Budget documents show only 79 per cent of the fuel excise revenue collected over the next four years will be spent on roads and infrastructure. 

“That’s funding South Australia’s roads desperately need – particularly in our regions.”  

Off the back of research showing 74 per cent of RAA members are concerned about energy bills, RAA welcomed the extension of the government energy rebates and new disaster mitigation funding initiatives.  

“Our members are telling us loud and clear that cost of living continues to cause them pain – so the extension of the energy rebate scheme is welcome news and will provide temporary relief for households,” Mr Reade says.  

“We’re also pleased to see a bushfire community recovery and resilience program and look forward to working with the government about how that funding could be used to help protect homes, reduce risk and ease pressure on insurance premiums.”  

The Federal Budget follows the Australian Automobile Association launch this week of its My Safety Counts campaign, which urges politicians to release the safety ratings given to Australian roads. 

Like vehicles, roads across Australia are given star ratings by road safety experts – yet these ratings are not released to the public.