Mr MITCHELL - 1997-02-26
The minister made statements in the House last year about speed and red light cameras. What decisions have been taken and how far are we away from the introduction of these measures?
Page 1971
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is a very timely question. A working group of officers from the Police Service, the Department of Transport and Works and the Attorney-General's Department are scheduled to meet next week to consider one of the more technical aspects of the new road safety measures - the installation of red light cameras.
We have been looking at a range of cameras. There has been considerable technological advancement in relation to these cameras. A new digital process is available rather than the wet-film cameras that have been used in the past. Tasmania is the only state using digital cameras and Territory police officers travelled there last week to see them in operation. The 5 major companies have responded in detail to the call for national expressions of interest for the supply of both red light and speed cameras. Since we debated the matter last November, it has been decided that the Territory should adopt digital electronic red light cameras rather than the older type of wet-film cameras which rely on the printing of photographs.
In the meantime, action has begun to amend the Motor Vehicle Act, the Traffic Act and the Traffic Regulations to provide for this new technology and to develop the important owner-onus provision. Honourable members will recall that we intend to apply owner onus. If it is your car that is photographed going through a red light or speeding, that will be your problem. The vehicle owner cannot say it was left with the milkman and he must have been driving it. The owner will not be able to deny responsibility. If it is your registration number and your car has been photographed going through a red light or speeding, you will pay the fine. I said it was a pretty draconian measure at the time, but that is the way we will do it.
Mr Bailey: Will it include government cars?
Mr COULTER: Of course it will include government cars.
Mr Bailey: So the Treasurer will pay those fines?
Mr Manzie: It will be the same as with a hire car.
Mr COULTER: You know what happens if you have a hire car. They are very particular. In Tasmania, they really want to be sure that the hirer will be the person driving the hire car. They want the photograph on the licence, and they almost want fingerprinting to ensure that they are not left with the bill. That was the case with a particular car-hire company. I can assure the honourable member that, with the new digital cameras they have in Tasmania, the companies are very interested to know who the hirer is to ensure they are not left with the bill for a speeding ticket.
The Department of Transport and Works is developing an implementation program for the installation of traffic loops for red light cameras. We intend to mount a public information campaign on this year's show circuit to inform people that we are heading down this line, that we are serious about it and that it will happen across the Northern Territory. We will tell people about the speed and red light cameras and their operation.
Page 1972
In relation to other areas of the road safety package, legislative amendments are being prepared to increase the speed limit for P-platers. Honourable members will recall that we intend to increase the speed limit for P-platers from 80 km/h to 100 km/h. We will also increase the penalty for not displaying P-plates to $100. Considerable legislation will be involved once the cameras have been purchased. Where they will be installed is really a secondary matter. A package of legislation will be introduced, probably in the April-May sittings. Then we will have the show circuit campaign. We have a target date of August 1997 set for the introduction of these measures, and I do not see any reason why that will not be adhered to.
Another thing I should mention is that serious traffic offences are being identified for consideration for automatic loss of licence. This was raised in a package released by the transport ministers in Hobart on 14 February. We are considering that, and we are looking also at consultation with the hire car industry. Representatives of the hire car industry will meet with me in the very near future to discuss speed-limiting devices, particularly on 4-wheel-drive hire cars. As I have said many times, 12% of people killed on Territory roads are international or interstate visitors. Many of them are in hire cars and many of those vehicles are 4- wheel-drives. Therefore, we are meeting to consider speed-limiters which would be set at 100 km/h. Another issue outstanding is the rural mobile patrols that the Chief Minister spoke about. We will be progressing those discussions and those considerations in the very near future.
Page 1973
Page 1971
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is a very timely question. A working group of officers from the Police Service, the Department of Transport and Works and the Attorney-General's Department are scheduled to meet next week to consider one of the more technical aspects of the new road safety measures - the installation of red light cameras.
We have been looking at a range of cameras. There has been considerable technological advancement in relation to these cameras. A new digital process is available rather than the wet-film cameras that have been used in the past. Tasmania is the only state using digital cameras and Territory police officers travelled there last week to see them in operation. The 5 major companies have responded in detail to the call for national expressions of interest for the supply of both red light and speed cameras. Since we debated the matter last November, it has been decided that the Territory should adopt digital electronic red light cameras rather than the older type of wet-film cameras which rely on the printing of photographs.
In the meantime, action has begun to amend the Motor Vehicle Act, the Traffic Act and the Traffic Regulations to provide for this new technology and to develop the important owner-onus provision. Honourable members will recall that we intend to apply owner onus. If it is your car that is photographed going through a red light or speeding, that will be your problem. The vehicle owner cannot say it was left with the milkman and he must have been driving it. The owner will not be able to deny responsibility. If it is your registration number and your car has been photographed going through a red light or speeding, you will pay the fine. I said it was a pretty draconian measure at the time, but that is the way we will do it.
Mr Bailey: Will it include government cars?
Mr COULTER: Of course it will include government cars.
Mr Bailey: So the Treasurer will pay those fines?
Mr Manzie: It will be the same as with a hire car.
Mr COULTER: You know what happens if you have a hire car. They are very particular. In Tasmania, they really want to be sure that the hirer will be the person driving the hire car. They want the photograph on the licence, and they almost want fingerprinting to ensure that they are not left with the bill. That was the case with a particular car-hire company. I can assure the honourable member that, with the new digital cameras they have in Tasmania, the companies are very interested to know who the hirer is to ensure they are not left with the bill for a speeding ticket.
The Department of Transport and Works is developing an implementation program for the installation of traffic loops for red light cameras. We intend to mount a public information campaign on this year's show circuit to inform people that we are heading down this line, that we are serious about it and that it will happen across the Northern Territory. We will tell people about the speed and red light cameras and their operation.
Page 1972
In relation to other areas of the road safety package, legislative amendments are being prepared to increase the speed limit for P-platers. Honourable members will recall that we intend to increase the speed limit for P-platers from 80 km/h to 100 km/h. We will also increase the penalty for not displaying P-plates to $100. Considerable legislation will be involved once the cameras have been purchased. Where they will be installed is really a secondary matter. A package of legislation will be introduced, probably in the April-May sittings. Then we will have the show circuit campaign. We have a target date of August 1997 set for the introduction of these measures, and I do not see any reason why that will not be adhered to.
Another thing I should mention is that serious traffic offences are being identified for consideration for automatic loss of licence. This was raised in a package released by the transport ministers in Hobart on 14 February. We are considering that, and we are looking also at consultation with the hire car industry. Representatives of the hire car industry will meet with me in the very near future to discuss speed-limiting devices, particularly on 4-wheel-drive hire cars. As I have said many times, 12% of people killed on Territory roads are international or interstate visitors. Many of them are in hire cars and many of those vehicles are 4- wheel-drives. Therefore, we are meeting to consider speed-limiters which would be set at 100 km/h. Another issue outstanding is the rural mobile patrols that the Chief Minister spoke about. We will be progressing those discussions and those considerations in the very near future.
Page 1973
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016