Victorian prisoners to help repair the state’s crumbling roads

Victoria’s Labor government wants prisoners to mow roadside grass, remove weeds and graffiti, and collect rubbish as part of its election plan for the state’s damaged roads.

Premier Ben Carroll said Labor would work with Corrections Victoria on a pilot program for supervised, minimum-security prisoners if it wins the November election. He said using inmates for basic outdoor tasks would allow skilled road crews to focus on pothole repairs.

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supplement the workforce where there are skill and capacity shortages.

Low-security prisoners already take part in day-release programs involving gardening, weeding and rubbish collection in some parks. The government said the proposed road work would not replace paid employees, but would “supplement the workforce where there are skill and capacity shortages.”

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not good enough

Labor also plans to bring more physical road maintenance back in-house, reducing its reliance on contractors. Carroll described Victoria’s road conditions as “not good enough.”

A separate website would let drivers upload photographs of potholes, request repairs and track their progress. Carroll said, “In 2026, it should be easier to see what repairs are planned and raise road problems quickly.”

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In 2026, it should be easier to see what repairs are planned and raise road problems quickly.

The government says it aims to double the number of potholes repaired this year to 500,000 by the end of January. The opposition has promised A$5 billion to repair and rebuild roads and fix one million potholes, while Shadow Roads Minister Danny O’Brien called Labor’s plan “a con job.”

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a con job