Shut down: backflip on $156k speed camera survey

The NSW Government has sensationally backflipped on plans to pour $156,000 into surveys to gauge taxpayers’ feelings about speed cameras.

The NSW Government has sensationally backflipped on plans to pour $156,000 into surveys to gauge taxpayers’ feelings about speed cameras.

Metro Roads Minister Natalie Ward told 2GB’s Ray Hadley on Tuesday morning the surveys had been “shut down”.

It came just over 12 hours after The Daily Telegraph revealed the state government would pay $156,200 to a marketing research agency tasked with surveying motorists’ “satisfaction with enforcement cameras”.

Ms Ward said she had only found out about the survey on Monday after enquires from The Daily Telegraph.

She revealed she had today told Transport for NSW to shut the survey down.

A permanent speed camera warning sign on William Street in Darlinghurst. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I think there is a more cost-effective way we can gauge community sentiment on this issue,” she said.

She said her ideas instead of the costly surveys included attaching an online link where people could note their feedback to the government’s current speed camera regime.

The contract was for six surveys to be carried out over the next three years, with 1000 people to be questioned in each survey.

Labor’s roads spokesman John Graham said the NSW Government should now put warning signs back in front of mobile speed camera sites.

Nationals upper house MP Wes Fang has defended the survey.

hey are currently only put on top of mobile speed camera vehicles.

“The most cost effective way to consult would have been to ask the public before warning signs were removed,” he said.

“That never happened. Now the Road Safety committee, the Opposition and the public want these signs back. The Minister should listen.”