Media response - Speed and red light cameras

Questions asked by: The West Australian

Subject: Speed and red light cameras:

The RAC says that the Government will get an extra $198 million from speed and red light cameras over four years. It seems to have taken this from both the extra revenue directly attributed to speed and red light fines and some fines revenue accounted for in the DPC Budget.

Question 1.

How many extra speed and red light cameras will be purchased with the $30 million (how many of each, what is the net gain taking into account any cameras that need to be replaced and what will this bring the total number of cameras to?)

Question 2.

How many extra fines will be issued in each of the four years in the Budget?

Question 3.

What is the total revenue that will be generated in each of the four years from speed and red light cameras?

Question 4.

What is the EXTRA revenue that will be generated from the additional cameras in each of the four years?

Question 5.

What is the funding that will go to the RTTF in each of the four years? The RAC says while the revenue to the road safety fund will increase, it will become less than a third of the revenue and this is "milking" the cameras for general revenue raising.

Minister's Response:

"WA Police are currently preparing a business case regarding speed and red light cameras and the options for any eventual mix and numbers will be clearer once that business case is completed.

"It is therefore impossible to determine how many cameras will be purchased at this stage, or how many extra fines would be likely.

"While it is understood that additional revenue will be raised in the out years as identified in the Budget, it must be recognised that these are assumptions.

"While fines from additional speed cameras will initially see increases in revenue, experience from other jurisdictions has shown that ultimately revenues decrease as drivers start to comply with speed limits -which is obviously the main aim of the cameras.

"As I have always said, the RTTF will continue to get a third of the money from speed and red light cameras - which means at the very least we can expect record levels of funding for road safety in WA over the forward estimates.

"The RTTF will also be even further boosted from funds raised by the sale of confiscated vehicles."