“A recent AusRAP (Australian Road Assessment Program) investigation recently rated NSW as having the worst roads in the country,” Mr Piccoli said.

“While we have the worst roads in Australia rather than consider changes to road funding the only response to the report from the NSW government has been to blame the previous federal government.

“The blame game is over – Labor holds state and federal governments, and the convenient ‘it’s the fed fault’ excuse constantly used in the past by the Iemma government is no longer an option,” continued Mr Piccoli.

Mr Piccoli said that during a recent debate on the road toll in NSW Parliament it was noted that 60 per cent of NSW road fatalities occur in country NSW.

'The NSW state government is failing on a number of fronts in the area of road safety, especially in the area of enforcement.

“For example, 23 years ago there were more highway patrol officers than there are today – and the officer in charge of the highway patrol has said that he needs 400 more officers.

“The other problem which the NSW Labor government has failed to address is the cost of road building and road maintenance. These costs have gone through the roof partly as a result of increased compliance costs for business as well as increased taxes

“The NSW Labor government has consistently dodged its owned responsibilities by blaming the previous federal government and in the meantime the necessary reforms have not been implemented.

“What we need in NSW is some action and some tough decisions to be made so we can get the road network up to scratch and so we can have the resources police need to keep our roads safe,” Mr Piccoli said.