Dominic Perrottet considers speed camera signs after inquiry told removing them was ‘wrong’

Dominic Perrottet has hinted at a major change to speed camera rules after it was revealed fines skyrocketed in NSW.

Premier Dominic Perrottet could reintroduce warning signs at speed cameras after the decision to remove them was slammed at a parliamentary inquiry.

A committee is investigating the impact and viability of unmarked speed cameras to figure out whether the move by the NSW government was made to save lives or raise revenue.

It was revealed speeding fines have skyrocketed by more than $20m since the signs were taken away last year, prompting former roads minister Duncan Gay to say the decision to remove them was wrong.

Mr Gay, who was the state’s roads minister between 2011 and 2017, on Monday told the inquiry he believed the government made the move in “good faith” but it ultimately was the “wrong decision”.

NSW Roads Minister Rob Stokes on Wednesday said the government was “listening very much” to what the community was saying on the issue and could be looking into changing the program.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has been ‘looking at the issue for a while’. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“The Premier is anxious to make sure that we take the community with us in any road safety issue,” Mr Stokes told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

“We’ve got a balance here, we’ve got clear advice that the mobile speed camera program is the best way to reduce the road toll, but equally in any road safety message, if we’re not taking the community with us it’s not going to work.”

Mr Perrottet told The Daily Telegraph he had been “looking at the issue for a while”.

The Premier has been looking at reinstating warning signs after accusations the move was about boosting government coffers.

Mr Perrottet praised the former roads minister and said his responses in the inquiry were “sensible”.

“Mr Gay had a great perspective, a sensible perspective on things,“ he said.

“I appreciate his ­wisdom and counsel and I can assure you the NSW government is looking at it.”

During the inquiry on Monday, Mr Gay said the decision to scrap warning signs was simply “wrong”.

“It is not the decision I made on the evidence that was before me at the time, but I believe they have made it in good faith with the advice they’ve had at hand,” Mr Gay said.

Mr Gay told the inquiry the best safety incentive was a “marked police car with a copper in it”, which had the same effect as signposting cameras.

A parliamentary inquiry is investigating unmarked speed cameras. Picture: Jonathan Ng

However, highway patrol cars who make a point to hide among trees or behind billboards were “just wrong”.

“The speed cameras are important, but they shouldn’t be there for entrapment. They should be there for safety reasons,” he said.

Mr Gay questioned whether the government would remove signs at red light cameras in the future.

During his time as minister in 2015, Mr Gay made mobile speed cameras more visible for drivers.

He also removed speed cameras which he believed were “not fulfilling a proper purpose” and increased the number of cameras across NSW.

Opposition transport spokesman Jo Haylen told 2GB’s Jim Wilson if removing signs was for safety, then the amount of fines should have decreased.

“Fines have increased from $2.3 million in 2019/2020 to $23.3 million in 2021. We need to have confidence in the system,” she said.

Former roads minister Duncan Gay said the decision to remove them was wrong. Photo: Bob Barker.

“What we want is people not speeding in the first place, for us it has been trying to prevent that, giving fair warning, slowing people down, preventing accidents rather than you getting a fine in the mail two to three weeks later, that doesn’t seem logical.”

The inquiry was told fines were having more of an effect on NSW residents with less money, and it was proving to be harder for drivers to lose their licence in a regional area with less access to public transport.

The NSW government announced in November 2020 warning signs at mobile speed cameras would be removed.

But in August they made a partial backtrack and said fixed warning signs would be rolled out as a reminder drivers can be caught anywhere at any time.

The decision was prompted by an influx of people being fined for going less than 10km/h over the limit.

Originally published as Dominic Perrottet considers speed camera signs after inquiry told removing them was ‘wrong’