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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-05-16 Daily Xml
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Mobile Phone Detection Cameras

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley) (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Police. Is the government planning to install additional mobile phone detection cameras and, if so, where are they and what is the time frame for installation? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Earlier this year, the government announced—

The Hon. J.K. Szakacs interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: You're not the minister anymore; just listen to the question. Earlier this year, the government announced five sites for the rollout of mobile phone detection cameras. In response to questions during the Budget and Finance Committee hearing on 12 February, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport indicated that a further two sites are being considered.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Special Minister of State) (14:40): I thank the member for Hartley for his question. As the house is aware, testing is underway on SA's first mobile phone detection cameras. They have been installed at key metropolitan corridors in a bid to reduce dangerous distraction behind the wheel. The member will be interested to know that the overhead cameras were commissioned at four busy locations and are being set up targeting drivers who use their mobile phones. Of course, in the—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Of course—

Mr Whetstone: Easily distracted, aren't you?

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: It was the comment prior to that that I think was in fact—

The SPEAKER: The minister will return to the answer. Minister, please ignore the interjections. Please continue with your answer.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Mr Speaker, I take offence. I ask that the statement be withdrawn and that there be an apology.

The SPEAKER: I did not hear the comment.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: It is beneath me to repeat it; however, I ask for the apology and the withdrawal before I do. The member for Chaffey would be well advised to do that.

The SPEAKER: Minister, which member are you referring to? Sorry, I cannot hear.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: The member for Chaffey.

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, do you have anything to say, anything to withdraw, anything to apologise for so we can play on?

Mr WHETSTONE: I withdraw to the temperamental minister.

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, you will withdraw that statement.

Mr WHETSTONE: I withdraw.

The SPEAKER: You will leave the chamber for the remainder of question time.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: What a scalp. On your way out. On your bike.

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, if you do not leave immediately, you will be named.

The honourable member for Chaffey having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. Sites now testing include South Road at Torrensville, with SA Police using that site as a particular testing location. Members will be aware that, of course, a profile has been obtained from that site, which is being used to ensure that the cameras that will be installed have a suitable reliability threshold. The shadow minister will know that a report was earlier obtained and has been ventilated in the public square in relation to the reliability of these particular cameras.

I have been reassured that the human review process before an expiation notice is issued will be a process that we can have confidence in. Motorists in South Australia will know that if they do receive an infringement, it will have been human reviewed with respect to the infringement that comes their way.

An honourable member: Thousands a day.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: Indeed, it is thousands a day, and the very purpose and intention behind this particular road safety policy is to change driver behaviour. As the shadow minister himself indicated on ABC radio, there must be bipartisan focus on ensuring that distraction is not at the heart of lives lost on South Australian roads. And the shadow minister—

The SPEAKER: Your time has expired, minister.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: —putting his phone away, will know that—

The SPEAKER: Your time has expired, minister. Please resume your seat.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN: —117 lives were lost last year.

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