The Nationals WA: Cook Government Snubs Wheatbelt Freight Network, Risks Regional Roads and Safety

The Cook Labor Government has dealt a major blow to regional Western Australia by excluding the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network (WSFN) from its State infrastructure investment shortlist; a decision that now threatens Federal funding and delays to critical regional road upgrades.

Mr Hunter said the decision puts hundreds of kilometres of planned Wheatbelt road improvements at risk, including key freight routes relied upon by farmers, truck drivers and regional communities across the Central Wheatbelt.

"This is one of the most effective and collaborative regional freight programs WA has ever seen and the Cook Government has chosen to walk away from it," Mr Hunter said.

"The State contribution required was modest, but the return for regional WA is enormous. Instead, the Government has put Federal funding and years of momentum at risk."

Since 2019, the WSFN has delivered approximately 450 kilometres of upgraded secondary freight roads, built to higher safety and durability standards, improving productivity and reducing freight costs for farmers, particularly in areas with limited rail access.

The program's business case sought $28 million per year in Federal funding, supported by a State co-contribution of approximately $4.7 million annually, less than seven per cent of the total investment, alongside contributions from local governments.

Mr Hunter said the timing could not be worse, with freight volumes increasing and the Wheatbelt already recording the highest road trauma rates in Western Australia.

"These roads are about safety as much as productivity," he said. "Bigger harvests, more trucks and more tourists are all sharing the same roads. The WSFN directly addresses those risks."

He warned that if funding gaps persist, the program could stall entirely, risking the loss of years of planning and the unprecedented cooperation between 42 local governments across the Wheatbelt.

"That level of collaboration does not happen by accident," Mr Hunter said. "If the Cook Government lets this program stall, it may never be restarted."

Mr Hunter also criticised the Government's priorities, pointing to its willingness to fund major metropolitan projects while regional freight infrastructure is overlooked.

"The Government can find $217 million for a Perth racetrack but can't back the roads that move WA's exports and keep regional people safe," he said.

Mr Hunter called on Treasurer and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti to urgently reinstate the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network on the State's priority infrastructure list.

"Regional WA has done the work. Local governments have stepped up. The Commonwealth is ready to invest," he said.

"It's time for the State Government to stop sidelining the regions and come to the table."