Under the proposal, default speed limits on roads outside built-up areas without signposted speed limits would be reduced from 100km/h to as low as 70km/h across Australia.
The Federal Government extended its public consultation process on the proposal to Monday, November 10, following backlash from the Coalition and some Labor Party members.
Mr Birrell said the move would make life more difficult for people in regional areas.
“It’s policy out of Melbourne and Canberra without any understanding of what’s going on in the regions,” he said.
“If there’s a reason why a road should not be 100km/h, a back road, then put a speed limit on it: don’t just say all roads everywhere are 70km/h.”
In an analysis, the Department of Infrastructure suggested speed limits on sealed and unsealed roads be lowered to either 90km/h, 80km/h, or 70km/h.
Data in the analysis highlighted an increase in road deaths since 2020, with 1291 recorded across the country last year, the highest annual toll in 12 years.
Modelling from the department showed lowering speed limits to 70km/h on roads would be the most effective limit to reduce fatal and serious injuries, but also came at the highest estimated cost.
Mr Birrell, however, said the government’s priority should be elsewhere.
“The first, most important thing to do is to fix the roads and make sure they’re safe. They’re worse now than they’ve ever been in my lifetime,” he said.
“People in regional areas, they know how things work, and they know what’s safe, and what they’ve been able to do their whole lives.”
At an Australian Local Government Association congress in Bendigo on Wednesday, November 12, Transport Minister Catherine King acknowledged heavy rain and the 2022 floods had substantially eroded the area’s road base.
Ms King promoted the government’s commitment to increase road and infrastructure funding for local governments, but did not provide a timeline on when she expected roads to be repaired.
Funding for the Roads to Recovery program has doubled, taking the annual grants for local road maintenance and construction to $1 billion.
“That's been a game changer for councils,” Ms King said at the congress.
“I've had councils across the country say that they've actually, for the first time, met their road maintenance targets.”
Federal Black Spot Program funding has also increased by $40 million, but not all the money has been utilised, as local governments must apply for the grants.
While feedback on the proposed speed limit change is closed, road rule decisions are ultimately enforced by individual states and territories.
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