General News
12 December, 2025
VicRoads controversy cleared in parliament
How long is a piece of string? It's the slogan for the VicRoads campaign whose origins were debated in state parliament. Its roots, however, may be in local government rather than state politics.
The saga of Maryborough’s VicRoads has reached Parliament but disagreement landed on one seven word phrase and who said it: how long is a piece of string?
Since the future of Maryborough’s VicRoads was brought into doubt the local campaign to save it has been navigating uncertainty.
The community effort has been led by R U Safe Driving School’s David Hendrickson, who has organised protests and started petitions all in an effort to keep a full-range of services locally.
It was a success story with a caveat when Central Goldfields Shire Council announced the service would remain, in full, at no cost to ratepayers.
The catch was clarity over how long the agreement was for. Both VicRoads and Council refused to share the details of the deal.
Member for Western Victoria Joe McCracken recently said in parliament that Member for Ripon Martha Haylett responded to questions about the deal’s longevity with “how long is a piece of string”.
“That’s code for she doesn’t have a clue,” he said.
Ms Haylett later hit back in parliament by calling Mr McCracken’s comments a “blatant lie”.
“I never said that, and Joe should be ashamed of himself for lying to my community in this way,” she said.
Mr Hendrickson, who used the phrase in advertisements and posters alongside a picture of Ms Haylett, confirmed she never used the phrase.
“[Mr McCracken] was sincerely unaware that it wasn’t Martha,” he said.
Instead the phrase has roots in local government, not state politics, according to Mr Hendrickson.
He said Central Goldfields Shire Council employee and VicRoads manager Michael Gorey responded to a question about how long the agreement was for with the phrase.
“It’s a huge statement coming from [Central Goldfields Shire CEO Peter Harriott’s] mouthpiece,” he said.
Mr Harriott said in a statement they weren’t focusing on the origins of the phrase.
“I have no idea where that comment came from; we are concentrating on running the service,” he said.
Mr Hendrickson also said Ms Haylett previously responded to questions about the deal’s length by saying the VicRoads agreement was “permanent”.
However, Ms Haylett has now confirmed in parliament the agreement between Central Goldfields Shire Council and VicRoads is for five years with the option to extend the deal.
This is an increase on October’s agreement which The Maryborough District Advertiser understands was for three years with the opportunity for extension.