Premier slams ‘hypocrites’ over road repairs

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has taken aim at what he described as “hypocrites” in the public who have been criticising temporary road repairs in the territory.

During last Friday’s sitting in the House of Assembly, Premier Wheatley defended the government’s approach to fixing the territory’s roads while addressing the backlash about the ongoing repairs. The criticism comes as the government undertakes temporary road works to make the roads more drivable while preparing for larger-scale improvements. Premier Wheatley was quick to call out the critics, stating that many of those complaining about the roads had also voiced dissatisfaction with the repairs being carried out.

“There are some real hypocrites out there in the public complaining about how many holes in the road, all the potholes in the road,” Premier Wheatley stated. “As soon as the asphalting started to happen, they started to complain that it’s being done without proper drainage or proper engineering.”

The Premier explained that the current asphalting works are a temporary measure to keep the roads functional while the government implements more extensive repairs. He assured residents that these future works would address the underlying issues with proper engineering and drainage systems.

“The asphalting that’s taking place now is to keep the roads drivable while we are preparing to do the major works, which would include drainage, which would include the proper base for the roads,” he explained. Dr Wheatley emphasized that the government is taking a dual approach—conducting temporary repairs while laying the groundwork for long-term solutions.