The Barnett Government has thrown Western Force a lifeline after striking a $1.5 million sponsorship deal with RugbyWA to promote road safety.

But former Liberal turned independent Rob Johnson has blasted the deal, warning that vital road safety funds were being used to prop up an ailing rugby team.

In one of the Barnett Government’s last acts before issuing the election writs, Deputy Premier Liza Harvey announced a 12-month deal for the Road Safety Commission to partner with RugbyWA.

The naming rights and front-of-jumper sponsorship is the biggest 12-month deal signed by an Australian Super Rugby franchise and has a three-year rollover renewal option.

Speculation has surrounded the Force’s future since a review recommended reducing the number of teams.

The $1.5 million will come from the Road Trauma Trust Account, a fund set up to use cash from red light and speeding fines to reduce the road toll.

Asked whether the deal was aimed at reducing the road toll or securing the future of Western Force, Mrs Harvey said: “Well, obviously, it will achieve both.”

The Deputy Premier said money from the trust had always been used for marketing and promotion of the road safety message.

Camera Icon Western Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry, Minister Liza Harvey, Dane Haylett-Petty and Road Safety Commission director of operations Chris Adams. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West Australian

Western Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry welcomed the deal, saying it would support the revenue base needed to run rugby in WA.

“It has put us in a good place that’s for sure,” he said. “This fills a hole in terms of our sponsorship targets.”

Mr Johnson, who set up the road trauma fund when he was road safety commissioner, said using road safety money to support a rugby team was an appalling abuse of the trust.

He said the fund had been designed to support concrete measures to reduce the road toll such as paying for more police hours or road upgrades.

Labor road safety spokeswoman Michelle Roberts said it would be a concern if road safety funds were being spent on politics rather than road safety.

Western Force was taken over by the Australian Rugby Union last year in a move that lifted a multimillion dollar debt from the franchise’s shoulders and saved it from falling into a bigger financial hole. Players and staff became employees of the ARU.

Soon after, they launched the Save The Force campaign to sell shares to raise an expected $5 million and turn the franchise into Australia’s biggest fan-owned club.

Under the road safety deal, players and coaching staff must carry out 1200 hours community work as road safety ambassadors.

Western Force and Wallabies winger Dane Haylett-Petty said: “It’s massive for us. It secures our future and it allows us to drive the message of road safety.”