Forcing states and territories to reveal secretive road crash data will clip the wings of politicians tempted to pour money into marginal electorates instead of projects that save lives.
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That's according to the Australian Automobile Association, which has welcomed a federal government push to force all states and territories to be transparent about road data or risk losing billions of dollars in commonwealth funding.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King revealed the condition would be part of upcoming negotiations over $50 billion in road funding under the National Partnership Agreement.
Some $21 million will also be injected into the National Road Safety Data Hub as part of the upcoming federal budget.
"A clear picture, underpinned by data, about where best to target road safety funding will save lives and ensure we are investing in the projects that will make the biggest difference," Ms King told audience members at the Transforming Transport Summit in Melbourne on Thursday.
"States and territories, researchers and stakeholders, as well as the general public, will also benefit from increased access to national datasets."
The number of fatal road accidents jumped by 8.2 per cent year-on-year to the end of March, with 1286 fatalities, according to the association.
It previously hit out at federal, state and territory governments for failing to release crucial data that could inform ways to reduce the road toll including the quality of roads, causes of fatal crashes and the effectiveness of law enforcement regimes.
The association described the transparency push as "the most significant national road safety reform in decades" and hoped it would reveal why the national road toll was rising.
Managing director Michael Bradley said it was a crucial step towards understanding what had gone wrong.
"This reform will also clip the wings of politicians who are tempted to invest scarce public money on road projects to win votes in marginal electorates, rather than projects that can save lives," Mr Bradley said.
The Australian Medical Association has also called for the information to be released.
Ms King said it was the first time the commonwealth sought to include this provision in negotiations and encouraged states and territories to commit to it.
She said the budget would contain money for new road and rail projects in every state and territory, but did not reveal details.
Australian Associated Press
