LNP Leader Deb Frecklington has slammed the Palaszczuk Labor Government for using Queenslanders as cash cows instead of keeping them safe on the roads, one week after Road Safety Week.
“Labor’s own budget shows that the government expects to raise $446 million in fines and forfeitures in this financial year alone, an 11.5% increase from last year,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Worse still, Labor is planning a windfall of $520 million in 2021/22, an astonishing increase of 30% since 2017/18.
“The staggering revenue totals we are seeing clearly shows Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Labor Government is treating Queensland motorists as cash cows.
“A single speed camera costing Queenslanders almost $5000 an hour is not about road safety – its blatant revenue raising for Labor Government coffers.
“Sadly, road fatalities are up more than 10% from this time last year and it is clear that real road safety action is needed instead of greedy mobile speed camera cash grabs.
“High visibility policing will always be better at enforcing safe driving than fines being sent to drivers long after they were caught speeding.”
LNP Deputy Leader and Shadow Treasurer Tim Mander said it was clear Labor’s use of mobile speed cameras was all about revenue raising and not road safety.
"The Labor Government got rid of the requirement for mobile speed camera units to display ‘speed camera in use’ signs to alert motorists to the camera,” Mr Mander said.
“The LNP would bring back the signs and stop leeching from the wallets of everyday motorists.
“Research shows overt police presence and enforcement has a major impact on driver behaviour and the RACQ and Police Union support bringing back the signs.
“The LNP want to save lives and for motorists to be safe on the road, but we don’t want to rip Queenslanders off.
“That is why the LNP would reintroduce the ‘speed camera in use’ policy to return the focus to saving lives, not revenue raising.”
The LNP has a track record of investing in road safety – our two-year $350 million Road Safety Action Plan saw Queensland’s lowest road toll on record in 2014.
Our plan included a mix of infrastructure, enforcement and education with action items including: • Flashing lights at school zones • State-wide speed limit review • Upgrading red light and speed cameras, and • Boosting Safer Roads Sooner program.
