Will Coats says red light cameras would make Tasmania ‘police state’

The Hobart City Council will lobby the state government to take action on drivers who run red lights. Meanwhile one councillor said it could make Tasmania a ‘police state’.

The non-operational red light cameras on the corner of Liverpool and Campbell Streets in the CBD in 2018. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

The Hobart City Council will lobby the state government to take enforcement action when drivers run red lights at certain intersections in the CBD.

The council voted in favour of the move on Monday, which also included the suggestion of installing red light cameras, a measure some on council disagreed with.

Red light cameras currently do not operate in Tasmania.

The NSW Government installed new red light cameras in 2018.

Councillors Ryan Posselt and Ben Lohberger moved a motion that the council write a letter to the Transport Minister about what they said was an increasing problem of drivers disobeying traffic lights.

“We can represent our community by writing to the relevant authorities and asking for enforcement action to discourage dangerous driving through intersections through red light running,” Mr Lohberger said.

City of Hobart Councillors, Ben Lohberger. Picture: Chris Kidd

Councillor Will Coats, who voted against the motion to write a letter, said enforcement action would be a “heavy-handed” approach.

“I think we potentially are sort of jumping to the solution without properly understanding the problem,” he said.

“You go to Melbourne and you feel like you’re in a police state, I wouldn’t want to see that happening in Tasmania.”

Councillor John Kelly said the recently installed scramble crossing could be one of the causes of more drivers running red lights.

“That is one of the root causes of it, it’s sheer frustration, there’s more cars on the road and it’s coming back to bite us now that we haven’t got an efficient traffic system,” he said.

Mr Posselt said councillors should be careful about how they speak about law-breaking.

“I don’t think justifying running a red light for any reason is acceptable as elected members,” he said.

City of Hobart councillor Ryan Posselt. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The law is very clear, if the law is red, you do not go through it.

“So claims that congestion, because it takes longer for it to get from ‘a’ to ‘b’, is an excuse for running a red light, is not, in my view, acceptable commentary.”

Mr Posselt said it was a matter of public safety.

“It’s a letter, it doesn’t cost much for us to advocate for our community,” he said.

The motion passed 7-4, with Louise Elliot, Mr Coats, Louise Bloomfield and Mr Kelly voting against the move.