Dominic Perrottet considers reinstating mobile speed camera signs

Dominic Perrottet has revealed he had concerns about former roads minister Andrew Constance’s speed camera signs policy.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has revealed he had concerns that a policy to remove mobile speed camera warning signs – championed by former roads minister Andrew Constance – placed a “greater focus on revenue raising” than on road safety.

“I don’t want speed cameras to be revenue raisers,” he said.

“We have been looking at, reflecting on the current policy. The priority is saving lives and making sure we keep people safe on the roads.

“When I became premier I asked the deputy premier and the planning minister, and now the transport minister, to look at the policy.”

“I tasked them when I was appointed as premier, to look at this issue, because I had concerns that there was a greater focus on revenue raising where there shouldn’t be, he said.

Mr Perrottet did not clarify exactly how many signs would come back under the changes.

“There needs to be a focus first and foremost, on road safety, getting the road toll down,” he said.

“I have full confidence that the minister’s policy will land very well.”

The state government is “listening” to community feedback on mobile speed cameras and is looking at options to change the program, NSW Roads Minister Rob Stokes also confirmed today.

Returning … mobile speed camera warning signs are likely to make a come back.

“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 are listening very much to what the community is saying,” he said.

Mr Stokes said there are currently “no plans” to change the program but work is underway which could bring back warning signs.

“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,” he said.

Mr Perrottet confirmed he has been “looking at” the issue “for a while” marking his first public comments on the issue since taking office. It is a clear departure from the repeated defence of the sneaky tactics by ex-transport minister Andrew Constance.

It comes after former roads minister Duncan Gay said the government was “wrong” to remove the warning signs, a move which has seen fine numbers skyrocket.

Fines have skyrocketed since the signs were removed.

Former transport minister Duncan Gay. Picture: Adam Yip

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is set to return the signs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

During his time in the portfolio, between 2011 and 2017, Mr Gay pushed to make ­mobile speed cameras more visible on NSW roads.

Mr Perrottet yesterday heaped praise on Mr Gay and labelled him sensible.

Describing Mr Gay as a “great roads minister”, Mr Perrottet said the government is “looking at” the issue of warning signs.

“ (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,” he said.

Under Mr Constance, the government continued to defend the policy despite multiple government MPs speaking out publicly against the tactics.

Nationals MP Wes Fang was among vocal opponents of Mr Constance’s pet project, previously calling the removal of signs “unfair”.

A handpainted warning sign for a mobile speed camera parked on Camden Valley Way. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Between July and September 2020, mobile digital speed camera brought in $2.45m in revenue across all fines, data from Revenue NSW showed.

During the same period in 2021, this figure ballooned to a massive $17.5m in revenue across all fines.

Transport Minister Rob Stokes said he was open to “new ideas” on the issue.

“The government is always willing to listen to new ideas when it comes to road safety,” he said.

Labor roads spokesman John Graham said Mr Gay’s evidence had brought “common sense” into the debate around warning signs.

“Now the government needs to listen,” he said.

“We want the signs back.”