Motions

Speed Detection

Adjourned debate on motion of Mr Wingard:

That this house establish a select committee to inquire into and report upon—

(a) the operation of speed cameras and speed detection devices in South Australia;

(b) the relationship between the location of speed cameras and the incidence of road accidents;

(c) the impact of constantly changing speed limits and the effectiveness of speed limit signage;

(d) the effectiveness and appropriateness of current penalties for speeding offences, including a review of fines imposed;

(e) the operation of the Community Road Safety Fund; and

(f) any related matters.

(Continued from 25 February 2015.)

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Bright.

Mr SPEIRS (Bright) (12:59): Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to presumably very briefly talk on this motion. The motion which is before the house is:

That this house establish a select committee to inquire into and report upon—

(a) the operation of speed cameras and speed detection devices in South Australia;

(b) the relationship between the location of speed cameras and the incidence of road accidents;

(c) the impact of constantly changing speed limits and the effectiveness of speed limit signage;

(d) the effectiveness and appropriateness of current penalties for speeding offences, including a review of fines imposed;

(e) the operation of the Community Road Safety Fund; and

(f) any related matters.

This is obviously an ongoing and very contentious issue in the community, the need to strike that effective balance between road safety and discouraging people from speeding and breaking the connection with revenue raising.

Revenue raising is something that is often mentioned to me out in the community. When people think of speed cameras, unfortunately, because of the current policy settings in place, they immediately connect that with revenue raising and believe that the government's current approach to speed cameras is not necessarily positioned around the safety on our roads but instead is connected with revenue raising for the government's coffers, and that is exceptionally unfortunate; it is not a place we want to be. I seek leave to continue my remarks at a point further on.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

Sitting suspended from 13:01 to 14:00.