Reforming the Roads Act: WalkSydney Update
Secretary of Transport Josh Murray agrees the reform is "not just about vehicles"
Yesterday, WalkSydney joined more than 100 stakeholders at the first engagement forum for the Roads Act Review (1993) , including advocates for walking, cycling, planning, road safety, the bus industry, accessibility, and the Better Streets movement. All Councils were invited to attend. If you haven’t heard about the Review you can find the “Have your say “ page here.
The forum heard from Transport Secretary Josh Murray, Deputy Secretary Sally Webb, and Reform sponsor Ruth Graham, who all reinforced that while there are no guarantees, they are hopeful that the process will result in a recommendation to Government on reforming the Roads Act.
When asked, "Why now?", Secretary Murray responded simply:
“Every time is a good time.”
He explained that the review is timely because of broader reforms — like new housing policy — and growing community expectations for more vibrant, people-focused streets. He also emphasised the Government’s core priorities: jobs, connecting communities, reducing road trauma, shifting transport modes, and achieving net zero emissions.
Importantly, the Secretary said: “The review is not just about vehicles.”
Mr Murray said Transport needs to understand its role within the wider community, and in relation to other decision-making bodies. He acknowledged the need to stop double-handling and fix coordination issues — both across government and within the organisation. Reflecting on the 2019 merger of RMS and TfNSW, he admitted it was “slapped together”, especially with the pandemic arriving soon after, and that more work is needed to refine the organisation and bring clarity.
For WalkSydney, the message we brought to the forum was clear:
We want a Roads Act that guarantees freedom to move — especially for children, older adults, people with disabilities, and everyone in between. That means recognising walking as a fundamental right and delivering streets that are safe, inclusive, and accessible.
We also made the case for a Commissioner for safe and inclusive streets — someone with real power to hold road authorities accountable, require crossings and footpaths, and ensure safety is never compromised.
The Roads Act Review is a chance to reimagine how our streets serve people. We’re optimistic and we’ll keep pushing to make sure this opportunity delivers real, lasting change.
WalkSydney also received a commitment from Minister Jenny Aitchison to meet with a delegation of young people and teenagers, so they can speak directly to government about the challenges they face on our streets every day.
WalkSydney will identify a diverse group of teens who can share their lived experiences and advocate for streets that empower children and teenagers to travel independently and safely. Jethro Shapiro-Liu (Year 10 student) will be part of that delegation. This is the kind of generational change we need.