Road safety a casualty in 09/10 State Budget
15 May 2009
Western Australian motorists will be paying a whopping $198million in additional speed and red light fines as a result of the State Budget.
The cash grab will net the State government a massive $541million in speed and red light fines over the forward estimates period.
But while the government rakes in the extra cash, spending on road safety initiatives is being radically cut back.
Not one dollar has been dedicated to the programs of the new Towards Zero Road Safety Strategy – except for $30m to pay for the new speed cameras.
On the positive side, the government has committed significant funding to a progressive program of new roads and road upgrades in both Perth and regional Western Australia.
But RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown says that good work has been undermined by the lack of commitment to cutting the State’s appalling road toll.
An RAC analysis of the State Budget shows:
- Speed and red light fines will increase by $198m over the forward estimates (Budget Paper 2, Volume 2, Page 418/Budget Paper 2, Volume 1, Page 95)
- The total take from speed and red light fines will net $541m over the forward estimates (Budget Paper 2, Volume 2, Page 418/Budget Paper 2, Volume 1, Page 95)
- Funding for the “Road Safety” objective delivered by Main Roads will be cut from $155m in 08/09 to $101m in 09/10 (Budget paper 2, Volume 2, page 423)
- As part of that cut, funding for the Safer Roads program in Main Roads WA will be slashed from $50m in 08/09 to just $36m in 09/10.
- The Safer Roads program has not been guaranteed funding beyond next year.
- The State Black Spots program remains static at $20million in 09/10 despite significant additional Federal funding, and
- “Support for the Implementation of the State’s Road Safety Initiatives” cut from $27.6m in 09/10 to just $14m in 10/11 (Budget paper 2, Volume 1, page 85).
Mr Brown says the budget represents a fundamental breach of trust by the government.
“In Opposition the Liberal Party was very loud in calling for all speed and red light fine revenue to go to the Road Trauma Trust Fund,” Mr Brown said.
“In government they have reverted to the cynical tactic of milking speed and red light fines to prop up consolidated revenue.
“The government recently patted itself on the back for endorsing the new Towards Zero road safety strategy but outside the new speed cameras had not committed any funding to it.
“Given the tougher economic circumstances, the RAC reasonably proposed that additional speed and red light fine revenue be used to make a modest but positive start to the strategy’s programs.
“One third of the additional speed and red light camera revenue will flow into the Road Trauma Trust Fund. That will not be enough to fund the programs needed to make inroads into our State’s poor road safety record.”
ROADS The RAC has welcomed the government’s commitments to new roads and road upgrades in Perth and the regions.
Mr Brown said many of the new commitments were for road projects which the RAC had been lobbying for action on.
“There is a range of significant projects which will get under way in the next financial year including further work on the Reid Highway, commencement of the Eelup roundabout upgrade, and planning for the Roe Highway extension.
“These are all positive projects which will help protect jobs while providing a lasting benefit to the Western Australian economy.
“The government can also take credit for providing funding for the promised extension of the northern rail line to Butler and Brighton and the provision of 3000 car bays at train stations in the coming years.”
Download the release (pdf)