October 2026

Victoria’s roads are falling apart, motorists are suffering serious damage to their vehicles, and at least one person has died in a crash reportedly involving a pothole.

But the really extraordinary part of this ongoing failure of government is that a citizen who took action to fix a dangerous pothole could face prosecution by the bureaucrats who failed to repair it.

This is bureaucracy at its most ridiculous.

According to the Mornington Peninsula Leader, local tradesman Pete Gleeson became a community hero after deciding he had waited long enough for authorities to repair a dangerous pothole on Baxter-Tooradin Road.

The crater had been there for weeks, reportedly damaging at least ten vehicles. Gleeson had particular concerns because his children and grandchildren travelled the road daily, while his wife narrowly avoided an accident after swerving to miss the hole.

So he did what the authorities apparently couldn’t manage. He loaded his truck with 80kg of asphalt and 20kg of concrete, enlisted a mate to help control traffic, and repaired the pothole himself. It took about half an hour and cost him around $500.

The response from local residents was overwhelmingly positive. His efforts attracted thousands of supportive comments, with people describing him as an absolute legend.

And why wouldn’t they? Here’s a citizen doing something practical about a dangerous situation while the government responsible for maintaining the road had failed to act.

But, incredibly, Gleeson could face penalties because it’s an offence to undertake roadworks without official permission.

The Department of Transport and Planning responded by lecturing the public about the need for repairs to be completed by qualified crews using appropriate materials.

This is breathtaking hypocrisy from a bureaucracy presiding over deteriorating roads, which is a widespread problem throughout Melbourne and across Victoria.

One resident summed it up perfectly: “Isn’t it fascinating that you can be dragged before the courts for fixing something, but not for failing to fix something that you are supposed to?”

Another commented that bureaucrats were preaching road safety while leaving dangerous potholes unrepaired for weeks.

Meanwhile, the consequences can be deadly.

On 13 September, according to ABC News, 71-year-old motorcyclist Peter Mason died after striking a pothole on the Western Highway near Ballarat.

The tragedy followed an Auditor-General’s report finding almost half Victoria’s road network was in poor condition and deteriorating faster than repairs could be completed. Yet the Victorian Government boasts about its $1.4 billion road maintenance allocation for 2026-27.

It’s another example of politicians announcing massive spending while ordinary Australians experience unacceptable outcomes. Motorists pay substantial registration fees, fuel taxes and other government charges. They are entitled to expect roads that are safe. Instead, they’re encountering dangerous potholes, vehicle damage and bureaucratic indifference.

Gleeson has asked a very pertinent question: Why must Australians maintain roadworthy vehicles when governments cannot provide roadworthy roads?

It’s a question Victorian politicians should answer.

And prosecuting the man who actually fixed a dangerous pothole would be the ultimate demonstration of bureaucratic stupidity.