General News
1 December, 2025
Petition Success on Speed Limits
A federal proposal to lower speed limits on country roads has been overturned following an outcry by regional people and a petition against the plan by the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler.
Reducing the speed limit was put on the agenda when the National Party held the roads portfolio in 2018, and recently took concrete form with the federal road safety agency’s proposal to reduce the default speed limit on unmarked country roads from 100km/h to 80km/h.
Mr Butler raised the proposal in NSW Parliament on 13th November, saying it “would have an unacceptable impact on the daily lives of country people. A lower speed limit means longer trips and less time in the day for family, community and work. It would increase the isolation that many country people experience, which has its own negative health impacts.”
Mr Butler then asked for signatures in support of the statement that “country people deserve respect for our ability to drive to local conditions, and we reject this nanny-state proposal to remove our freedoms.” The petition has racked up nearly 3,000 signatures in just two weeks.
Mr Butler shared the strong response to the petition with the NSW Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison. Minister Aitchison was one of the voices telling the federal government that this proposal would not fly. The Federal government has since told the road safety agency not to proceed with the plan to lower speed limits.
“I thank Minister Aitchison for paying attention to the results of my petition and listening to country people when we say that lower speed limits would reduce our quality of life,” said Mr Butler.
“I congratulate those who took the time to add their signature to my petition; together, we have shown our strength and managed to block this damaging proposal,” said Mr Butler.
