Brief
Motorcyclists plan protest in Melbourne over Victoria’s pothole crisis
Riders cite a Victorian Auditor‑General report and a recent fatal crash as reasons to demand action before the November election.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Motorcycle riders are organising a protest outside Parliament House in Melbourne on October 3, demanding faster repairs of Victoria’s pothole‑ridden roads, SMH reported.
What happened
Long‑time rider Michael White, who recently completed a 4,000‑km tour of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales, said he encountered more potholes in the first 20 minutes back in Victoria than in the rest of the journey combined. White and fellow riders Ilona Szabo and Irene Gianelli plan to demonstrate after the death of motorcyclist Peter “Tiki” Mason, who died on September 13 when his bike hit a pothole near Trawalla.
What the reports add
The article notes that the Victorian Auditor‑General’s Office found almost half of the state’s roads are in “poor or very poor” condition. Rob Salvatore, chair of the Victorian Motorcycle Council, said the government’s response has been limited to increasing resources, which he described as “lagging behind.” Premier Ben Carroll has proposed using prisoners for road maintenance, while the opposition Coalition pledged to fix one million potholes with a $5 billion funding boost.
What was said
White told SMH, “We know riding motorcycles is dangerous, more dangerous than driving a car… give us a fighting chance to get home to our families.” He added, “If a car hits a big pothole, it’s annoying at most… This puts us in hospitals.” Szabo said, “With this current government there’s a lot of mistrust… it’s been a long time since anything has been properly done for the roads.”
How it came about
The protest follows a series of high‑profile incidents, including Mason’s fatal crash, and comes as road quality has become a key issue in the upcoming November 28 state election.
Key facts
- Motorcyclists plan a protest outside Parliament House in Melbourne on Oct 3. (smh.com.au)
- The Victorian Auditor‑General reports almost half of the state’s roads are in poor or very poor condition. (smh.com.au)
- Premier Ben Carroll proposes using prisoners for road maintenance; the opposition pledges a $5 billion pothole‑fix plan. (smh.com.au)
- Peter “Tiki” Mason died after hitting a pothole near Trawalla on Sep 13, 2026. (smh.com.au)
- Motorcyclist Michael White says potholes put riders in hospitals more often than they affect car drivers. (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “Victorian roads: Motorcycle riders plan parliament protest over Victoria’s deadly pothole crisis”
