Diagnosing the Gridlock and the Long Road to Safer Transit

In my years as a family doctor, I have seen the aftermath of what happens when safety is treated as a secondary concern. It is not just about bruises or broken bones: it is about the ripple effect of trauma that tears through families and communities. When I look at our local infrastructure, I see more than just bitumen and paint. I see a pulse. And right now, in the southern suburbs, that pulse is irregular.

The Waiting Room of Bureaucracy

Mundijong Road and Kulija Road are vital arteries for our region, yet they remain stuck in a liminal space of administrative red tape. For residents in the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale and the City of Rockingham, these roads are a daily necessity. They are also a source of increasing anxiety. Heavy haulage and local commuters are forced to share narrow passages that were never designed for this level of modern demand. The risk is visceral. Every day we wait for a decision is another day our families are exposed to unnecessary danger on the bitumen.

The local government has already made the move to hand the care and control of these roads over to the state. It is a logical step. Local councils simply do not have the deep pockets required to maintain and upgrade major thoroughfares to the standard required for modern safety. However, the handover process is where the momentum often stalls. As a GP, I know that a slow diagnosis can be just as dangerous as the ailment itself.

We need to ensure our community stays informed and engaged as we push for these evidence-based improvements. Please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel for further updates on how we are holding the government to account: Subscribe to Dr Brian Walker

A Question of Classification

I recently stood in the House to ask the Minister for Transport for a clear timeline. I wanted to know when Main Roads was first approached and what exactly is causing the delay in making these roads a state priority. The answer I received was a classic symptom of the status quo: they are undertaking a classification assessment. This sounds responsible on paper, but for the mother driving her kids to school or the tradesman starting his shift, it offers very little comfort. How long does it take to recognize that a road is failing to keep its users safe?

The evidence remains clear. While the major parties play politics with budget cycles, we look at the data. Science and engineering tell us how to build safer roads, but it takes political will to actually pave them. We are not asking for luxury; we are asking for infrastructure that reflects the growth and the needs of a modern Western Australia. The shift of responsibility to Main Roads is the right move, but only if it results in immediate action rather than a permanent stay in a desk drawer.

The Human Cost of Inaction

Bureaucracy thrives on distance, but as your representative, I prefer to keep things grounded in the human cost. Every week that passes without a firm commitment to upgrade Mundijong and Kulija Roads is a week where we accept an elevated level of risk. The sinking feeling when you hear of another accident shouldn't be the price we pay for living in a growing community. We are forward thinkers who believe that government should work for the people, not the other way around.

I will continue to monitor the progress of this classification assessment closely. It is my job to ensure that these roads do not fall through the cracks of a busy legislative agenda. Our community deserves roads that are fit for purpose, built on evidence, and maintained with the care that only state resources can provide. We will keep fighting for a result that puts safety ahead of spreadsheets.

You can read the full details of this exchange in the Official Hansard record from Parliament. To help us continue the fight for sensible, science-first policy in WA, please consider joining Legalise Cannabis WA today.