Joint media release
Local organisations have the opportunity to drive road safety innovation and technology after the Morrison-McCormack Government instigated a new $12 million Road Safety Innovation Fund.
Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan urged any organisations in his area with an interest in road safety research and development to apply for funding and help make a difference to the lives of all road users.
“Road crashes have an enormous social and economic impact on all affected communities, but particularly on the families and friends of the victims,” he said.
“I saw this first-hand when working as a police officer and one of my key aims as an MP and Chair of the Government’s Joint Select Committee on Road Safety is to do all I can to work towards zero fatalities on our roads.
“Innovation and technology are key tools that can help reduce the number of road crashes through improved road safety management initiatives or new technologies and delivery techniques.
“Related research projects will also be considered for funding through this new grant program in order to inform government policy.”
The first round of grant applications closes on 18 May 2020.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the entire community could contribute to improving road safety.
“The Australian Government takes road safety seriously, because one death or one crash on our roads is one too many,” he said.
“The fund will target innovative projects addressing priority areas including improving road safety in regional and remote areas, reducing driver distraction and drug driving and supporting better safety outcomes for vulnerable road users.
“I look forward to announcing successful projects to be funded under Round 1 of the Road Safety Innovation Fund in the coming months and seeing critical safety-improving projects get underway soon after.”
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the first round of the Road Safety Innovation Fund had $2 million available to fund projects across the country to run over the next four years.
“This fund is just one of the many ways the Australian Government is investing in road safety,” he said.
For further information, including application guidelines and submissions, for the $12 million Road Safety Innovation Fund are available at www.grants.gov.au
The Government’s commitment to road safety includes funding for the following initiatives:
• Establishment of a new Office of Road Safety to support the Australian Government’s road safety agenda;
• $2.2 billion Local and State Government Road Safety Package which includes:
– An additional $1.1 billion for the Roads to Recovery Program
– An additional $550 million for the Black Spot Program
– An additional $275 million for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity program
– An additional $275 million for the Bridges Renewal Program.
• Fatality Free Friday – $220,000 over four years;
• $1.8 million provided to develop the Digital Road Safety Passport over two years;
• the $4 million Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund over four years;
• the $12 million Road Safety Innovation Fund over four years;
• $6.6 million funding of ANCAP over four years;
• $8 million provided to upgrade Driver Reviver sites over two years;
• $8 million to extend the Keys2Drive program to 30 June 2023; and
• $22 million over four years to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to continue the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiatives program which funds practical initiatives to improve the safety of the heavy vehicle industry.
Media contacts
Mr McCormack – Tess Salmon 0467 740 017 | Hannah Maguire 0429 920 254
Mr Buchholz – Scott O’Connell 0413 424 384
Mr Conaghan – Liz Spry 0418 928 744
