Media Releases

A State Government plan to restore public confidence in road safety cameras has passed through State Parliament this week.
Nationals MP for Northern Victoria, Damian Drum, said the legislation appointing Australia’s first independent Road Safety Camera Commissioner was designed to increase transparency around the issues of red light and speed cameras.
Speaking on the Bill in Parliament, Mr Drum said there had been evidence of a lack of public confidence about the cameras with common complaints that they were inaccurate, poorly sited or simply “revenue raisers”.
“We know very well that road safety cameras save lives,” Mr Drum said.
“Putting more independence around the control and monitoring of the road safety camera system will give the public more confidence and create more integrity around the system.
“It has been proven that if people truly believe that a system is working for their benefit, then they will change their driving behaviour.”
The Road Safety Camera Commissioner will:
• Oversee the accuracy and fairness of the camera system, including regularly reviewing it and reporting to Parliament every year.
• Investigate matters related to the integrity, accuracy and efficiency of the system.
• Handle complaints from the public which pointed to any potential system problems.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Peter Ryan, said the appointment of the Road Safety Camera Commissioner was part of a range of Coalition State Government initiatives to change the culture of speeding in Victoria.
“An investigation by Victoria’s Auditor General last month found speed and red-light cameras are focussed on road safety, not raising revenue. It also found cameras had led to reduced speeding, fewer crashes and less road trauma,” Mr Ryan said.
Mr Drum said he believed the new commissioner would give Victorian drivers new faith in the system and lead to a lowering of the road toll.