Arabic version: آلاف يتظاهرون احتجاجاً على حفر طرق فيكتوريا

According to ABC News, more than 3,000 people joined a motorcycle rally outside Victoria’s parliament on Sunday, calling for action on potholes and road safety. The broken roads rally began at 11am, with chants of “fix the roads” heard alongside motorbike engines. Police said the gathering attracted more than 3,000 attendees.

The event was organised by Michael White and Paul Povh, who host a motorcycling YouTube channel. Addressing the crowd, Mr White said the group was focused on the condition of the roads rather than political parties, and said riders were tired of “burying our mates”.

The rally followed the death last month of 71-year-old Peter “Tiki” Mason, who died while riding his motorbike on the Western Highway near Trawalla after he was believed to have struck a pothole. Police were still investigating the cause of the incident. Mr Mason’s family shared their heartbreak and said they did not want his death used to promote “political agendas”.

Road maintenance and potholes have become a major issue before the November Victorian state election, particularly after heavy rain created fresh potholes in some areas. A Victorian Auditor-General’s Office report found the proportion of state-managed roads rated poor or very poor rose from 39 per cent to 48 per cent between 2021 and 2024.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson attended the rally, while Premier Ben Carroll spoke with its organisers on Saturday. Labor has pledged $1 billion for road maintenance and added $352 million to pothole repairs this year. The Coalition has promised $5 billion over four years to improve the state’s roads.