Speaking to Fairfax Media in Nowra on Wednesday, Ms Pavey said the highway should be “beyond politics”.

“We need to get those conversations across state and federal boundaries and get this road done,” she said.

“We are going to need the federal government’s help.

“The majority of people in Australia want to live on the eastern seaboard and we need to have a road and freight network that reflects that.

“This road is beyond politics. The solutions are beyond politics.

“The community expects us to work together.”

Referring to the call for the federal government to redirect “80-20 funding” to the highway, Ms Pavey said: “We need to refocus the next level of support from the federal government into a regional road network.” 

Ms Pavey was  emotional after being shown coverage of fatalities on the highway and endorsed Fairfax Media’s FIX IT NOW campaign.

“It is very powerful. The Fourth Estate is an essential part of democracy and the voice of a community. 

“To see the passion and the way you have delivered your news stories to me today was a lesson in history, but also a lesson in the community and the pain you have experienced. That is what lawmakers need to respond to.”

She said the state government had invested $1.7 billion in the highway in projects and planning, and called on federal Labor to get on board “going into an election cycle”.

“It is important that Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese not just talk about the city stuff, they have to show a commitment to the regions as well.”

South East Australian Transport Strategy spokeswoman Patricia White demanded an immediate commitment from all parties to 80-20 funding:

“For every election period we wait, we are putting it out past 10 years, we are putting it out to 15, 20 years. Governments need to come together.”