Road Traffic (Issue of Free Tickets by Parking Ticket-Vending Machines) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 9 December 2015.)

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (17:17): The Road Traffic (Issue of Free Tickets by Parking Ticket-Vending Machines) Amendment Bill is an initiative of the member for Unley; therefore I advise that the government supports this bill. In practice, it will allow councils to introduce free short-term parking to encourage patronage of suburban businesses. It will also enable councils to manage the issue of all-day parking close to the CBD by workers who park and then walk or ride.

A further aim is to make enforcement of the free parking period more efficient, as currently councils have to resort to chalking tyres. This bill will allow local councils, as parking authorities, to issue free parking tickets for a nominated period of time. Signs would read 'free ticket' or 'free parking', with a requirement for a ticket to be obtained and displayed as soon as possible after parking. Failure to obtain a ticket or overstaying the time period would be subject to an expiation fee of $49 or a maximum court-imposed penalty of $1,250.

The Local Government Association of South Australia was consulted and it has advised that it does not foresee any issues with providing the power to install free ticket parking. It will be up to individual councils to decide whether or not they wish to introduce the measure. The government is aware of other jurisdictions where this initiative has been introduced.

The City of Sydney introduced free 15-minute ticket parking zones in the retail areas of 'village main streets' outside the city centre in December 2013. New South Wales also amended the regulations to allow for the no-fee scheme. Also, the Brisbane City Council allowed free 15-minute ticket parking in all non-CBD metered areas in December 2014. With those comments I commend the bill.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (17:19): I thank the Hon. John Gazzola for his contribution to the Road Traffic (Issue of Free Tickets by Parking Ticket-Vending Machines) Amendment Bill. This is a fairly simple bill and the contributions recognise that we need to listen to our community and introduce a very simple bill, which has passed in the House of Assembly. I commend the bill to the chamber and hope that it has a speedy passage.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

Bill taken through committee without amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. J.S. LEE (17:21): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.