Speed Safety Cameras

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:23): My questions are to the Minister for Police. How many average speed safety cameras are operating in South Australia? What date was each camera established? What has been the average speed reduction impact of each camera? How much revenue has each camera raised since being installed?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:23): I thank the Hon. Mr Wade for his questions. South Australia and this government remain absolutely committed to the reduction of speeding within our community. We know from enormous amounts of evidence gathered over a long period of time that speed is a chief contributing factor when it comes to the number of road accidents that occur within our community and also the number of road deaths that occur in the state of South Australia. If we can reduce the level of speeding that goes on within our community, then we would have gone a long way to reducing the likelihood of accidents within the community.

When it comes to speed cameras, they of course perform an incredibly important role when it comes to the policing of speed. We know that if you want to be able to change community behaviour, it is necessary that policing forms a very important component of that. Regarding the specific nature of your question, Hon. Mr Wade, which I understand was asking how many speed cameras we have in—

The Hon. S.G. Wade: Particularly the average speed ones.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Oh, the point-to-point? I am advised that there are currently in South Australia 133 fixed safety cameras at intersections that operate throughout the state. In regard to point-to-point cameras, which, of course, are a new addition to the government's armoury when it comes to taking on the challenge of speeding, this is something I will have to take on notice. But these are proving to be an incredibly effectual tool when it comes to monitoring speed, not just at a fixed point, but rather over a distance.

Critically, when it comes to the Community Road Safety Fund, which, of course, all money raised through speed cameras goes towards, it provides, again, an important source of revenue that is spent entirely on efforts within the state regarding road safety. I think the Hon. Mr Wade asked how much money was raised through that, and I am able to advise that, in 2014-15, $81.4 million was appropriated into the Community Road Safety Fund, compared with speeding fine collections of $51.8 million.

For 2015-16 I am advised that appropriations to the fund will be approximately $81 million. The point there being, of course, that we put more money, as a state, into the Community Road Safety Fund, or money is topped up into the Community Road Safety Fund over and above what is raised through speed camera revenue. So what is raised out of speed cameras in the form of fines goes into the Community Road Safety Fund, but that amount in and of itself does not equate to the entire amount that goes into the fund. The state government also tops up money into the Community Road Safety Fund, which is also spent on matters regarding road safety.

I will take the question regarding the number of point-to-point cameras on notice and seek to get that information to the honourable member as quickly as possible.