Hon. Julie Freeman MLC

The Nationals WA have rejected the Animal Justice Party’s (AJP) push to establish an Independent Office of Animal Protection, describing the proposal as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

Nationals MLC Julie Freeman said the AJP motion, recently put forward in the Legislative Council, calls for the establishment of an Independent Office headed by a Chief Animal Protection Officer, and advised by an Animal Protection Advisory Committee.

“Let us be absolutely clear: The Nationals WA oppose this proposal,” Ms Freeman said.

“The AJP can dress this up in reassuring words like ‘independent’, ‘transparent’ and ‘accountable’, but Western Australians should look beyond the language and at the agenda behind it. Their own published policies make it clear where they stand – they want to abolish animal farming, racing, rodeos, pony rides and zoos.

“That is not a balanced approach to animal welfare; it is an ideological agenda completely disconnected from the realities of agriculture, regional communities and the industries that support thousands of Western Australian livelihoods.”

The AJP has avoided debating its Bill to establish the three institutions, opting instead to move a motion that calls on the Cook Labor Government to urgently establish the office and provide legislation, funding, and a timeline for implementation.

“A Bill could have been scrutinised clause by clause, allowing Parliament to properly examine exactly what powers this office would have, what safeguards would apply, what it would cost taxpayers and who would have a seat at the table. Instead, Parliament is being asked to endorse the concept before those fundamental questions have been answered,” Ms Freeman said.

Under the AJP’s proposed model, people with commercial animal-sector experience would be permanently excluded from becoming Chief Animal Protection Officer, while there is no equivalent exclusion for activists committed to ending industries involving animals.

“That tells you everything you need to know about their version of ‘independence’,” Ms Freeman said.

“They want to exclude people with practical, hands-on industry knowledge while leaving the door wide open to activists whose stated objective is to shut those industries down.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food and Racing and Gaming Lachlan Hunter MP said “The Nationals WA stand with our farmers, veterinarians, trainers, researchers, racing and recreation participants, small businesses and regional communities.

“We support strong animal welfare standards, credible science and effective enforcement, but we will not support the creation of an ideological bureaucracy designed by a party whose own policies seek to abolish lawful industries that sustain livelihoods and regional communities.

“The Nationals are not fooled. The language might be the sheep’s clothing, but the AJP’s own published agenda reveals the wolf beneath.”

Shadow Minister for Road Safety, Hon Julie Freeman MLC, is once again calling for a greater visible police presence on Western Australian roads as the State’s road toll reaches 135 lives lost this year.

Ms Freeman said Western Australians, particularly those living and travelling in regional areas, were consistently calling for more police patrols and stronger frontline enforcement.

“People want to see police out on our roads because a visible police presence is one of the strongest deterrents to dangerous driving,” Ms Freeman said.

“Cameras have a role to play, but they cannot pull over a dangerous driver, conduct a breath or drug test, or take an unsafe vehicle off the road.

“Police can identify dangerous behaviour and deliver an immediate consequence for speeding, drink or drug driving, failing to wear a seatbelt or using a mobile phone.

“When the consequence is immediate, it has a much greater impact and is far more likely to change behaviour.”

Ms Freeman said the mounting loss of life was particularly unacceptable while record revenue from the State’s new AI safety cameras was flowing into the Road Trauma Trust Account.

“Every dollar collected through these cameras is quarantined for road safety, yet the toll continues to rise,” Ms Freeman said.

“Western Australians deserve to know how this record revenue is being used and when they will see results on our roads.

“The Cook Labor Government has the money. It must invest more of the Road Trauma Trust Account into frontline enforcement, including additional traffic patrols and targeted police operations across regional WA.”

Ms Freeman said Premier Roger Cook’s attempts to defend the Government’s record by pointing to an improvement in the per-capita toll ignored how poorly Western Australia continued to compare nationally.

“At 6.3 deaths per 100,000 people, Western Australia has the second-worst road fatality rate in the nation,” Ms Freeman said.

“We are only performing better than the Northern Territory and remain well above the national rate of 4.8 deaths per 100,000.

“That is not a record the Premier should be trying to defend. It is a warning that the Government’s approach is not working.”

Ms Freeman said the continued overrepresentation of regional Western Australians in the road toll demanded urgent action.

“Once again, most fatal crashes are occurring on regional roads, despite regional Western Australians making up only a small proportion of the State’s population.

“Regional drivers travel longer distances, often on poorer roads, and can wait much longer for emergency assistance. They deserve more visible and sustained traffic policing—not an occasional blitz after the toll reaches another terrible milestone.

“One hundred and thirty-five people have already failed to make it home, so far this year. The Government must stop making excuses and start delivering the visible action Western Australians are asking for.”

Shadow Minister for Road Safety Hon Julie Freeman MLC has welcomed the latest funding for the Regional Road Safety Program (RRSP) but says the Cook Labor Government’s $125 million commitment falls far short of what road safety stakeholders say is needed to address dangerous regional roads.

A RAC-led business case, developed with WALGA and Main Roads, identified 439 priority roads covering 8,208 kilometres and estimated that $552 million was required to deliver the necessary safety treatments.

“These projects are welcome, but the Government cannot pretend that $125 million over five years is an adequate response to a $552 million problem,” Ms Freeman said.

“Labor’s commitment provides less than one quarter of the funding identified as necessary to treat the priority network, leaving thousands of kilometres of regional roads without these proven safety upgrades.”

Ms Freeman said the shortfall was made worse by the Cook Government’s continued failure to secure funding from its federal Labor colleagues.

“Labor promoted a $250 million extension of the Regional Road Safety Program to local government roads at the 2025 State Election, comprising $125 million from the State and an intended $125 million contribution from the Commonwealth,” she said.

“More than a year later, the Cook Labor Government has still not secured a single dollar of funding from the Commonwealth Labor Government.

“Labor controls both governments. The Premier and the Transport Minister need to explain why they promoted a $250 million program without first obtaining a funding commitment from their own federal colleagues.”

“In 2024, 61 per cent of Western Australia’s road fatalities occurred in regional areas, despite only around one-fifth of Western Australians living outside Perth.

“That demands far greater urgency and a far greater investment than Labor has offered.”

Ms Freeman called on the Cook Government to increase its contribution and guarantee the full $250 million program if Commonwealth funding could not be secured.

“Regional road safety cannot be allowed to fall into the gap between two Labor governments,” she said.

Few things showcase the best of Western Australia better than a road trip.

During this year’s parliamentary winter break, my husband and I have travelled more than 3,000 kilometres through our great State, including a journey along the iconic Canning Stock Route. Like thousands of other Western Australians, we shared the road with caravans, camper trailers, four-wheel drives and families making memories in regional WA.

It reinforced something I’ve believed for a long time: road safety and regional development are not separate issues. They go hand in hand.

Western Australia is blessed with some of the world’s most spectacular tourism destinations. From the Coral Coast and the Kimberley to the Goldfields and our vast outback, people travel thousands of kilometres to experience everything our regions have to offer.

But the journey matters just as much as the destination.

Those long drives take travellers through dozens of regional towns that rely on tourism to support local jobs, small businesses and community services. Every stop for a coffee, a meal, fuel or an overnight stay helps keep those communities alive.

Unfortunately, the Cook Labor Government is failing to invest in the infrastructure that makes those journeys safe and encourages people to stop.

Already this year, 112 people have lost their lives on Western Australian roads. Half of those deaths have occurred in regional WA, despite only around one in five Western Australians living outside Perth.

We regularly hear about the Fatal Five: speed, fatigue, distraction, seatbelts and drink or drug driving. Fatigue, in particular, remains one of the greatest risks on our long regional highways.

The answer isn’t simply telling people to stop and rest. We also need to give them places worth stopping.

Too many regional rest areas are neglected, with broken facilities, overflowing rubbish bins, potholes and a lack of basic amenities. Drivers who should be taking a break instead keep driving, hoping somewhere better is just up the road.

That’s a road safety issue. But it’s also a missed opportunity for regional tourism.

The same applies to many of our country towns. Local governments work incredibly hard to create welcoming main streets, improve public spaces and develop attractions that encourage visitors to stay a little longer. Local businesses invest in cafés, accommodation and visitor experiences because they know tourism is their lifeblood.

Yet too often those efforts are undermined by inadequate State investment in the basic infrastructure and services that make communities attractive places to visit. When travellers don’t feel safe, can’t access clean public facilities or simply don’t see an inviting place to stop, they drive straight through.

That means fewer customers for local businesses, fewer tourism dollars staying in regional communities and fewer opportunities for drivers to take the breaks that could save lives.

Road safety and regional development should always go hand in hand, and investing in one strengthens the other.

Better maintained rest areas encourage people to stop before fatigue sets in. Safer, more welcoming towns encourage visitors to spend money locally instead of driving on. Well-maintained roads, clean facilities and thriving communities don’t just improve the visitor experience — they support regional jobs, strengthen local economies and make our roads safer.

If the Cook Labor Government is serious about supporting regional tourism, it must start by investing in the roads, rest areas and community infrastructure that connect people to these remarkable places.

Every Western Australian benefits when our regions thrive.

So, if you’re heading off on a road trip these school holidays, take your time. Pull over regularly. Support the small towns along the way. Buy your lunch at the local bakery, grab a coffee from the corner café and spend your tourism dollars in regional WA.

You’ll help strengthen the communities that make our State so special, and you’ll give yourself the best chance of arriving home safely.

Because road safety and regional development aren’t separate conversations. They are two sides of the same journey.