This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In Victoria, potholes have become a hot issue in the lead-up to the state election in November. According to the National Transport Research Organization, Victoria has the worst pothole problem in Australia.
Potholes can damage a vehicle's tires, wheels, suspension, undercarriage and more. The increase in heavy vehicles on Australian roads has worsened road deterioration. Climate change is also playing a role.
This week, the Victorian government announced an extra $352 million to double its pothole-repair target to 500,000 by the end of January 2027. It said the investment would be partially offset by delaying three planned level crossings by a year. The Coalition has separately promised $5 billion over four years for road maintenance, including a target of one million pothole repairs.
Potholes—of all things—are suddenly a hot political issue. The national Snap Send Solve platform states that road and pothole problems increased 27% nationally in the year to June 2026. As the name suggests, it's a community-based snapshot of potholes, not a comprehensive pavement-condition survey, so it cannot tell us precisely how much Australian roads have deteriorated.
Current national road-condition data is limited and inconsistent, making it difficult to make a reliable state-by-state comparison. However, there is anecdotal evidence and considerable media coverage suggesting the issue is worsening across much of Australia. State and territory governments generally manage major arterial and state roads, while local councils maintain most local roads.
The federal government also provides significant road funding but usually does not directly maintain roads. By analogy, a pothole is usually not the disease. Rather, it is the visible symptom of deterioration occurring within the road pavement.
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