Page 3518 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990
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flout the law and risk the lives of others. The fines for traffic infringements have not been reviewed since they were introduced in 1983. They do not reflect an adequate level of penalty to provide a deterrent to potential offenders. This Bill provides for an approximate 60 per cent increase in the level of all traffic infringement fines, which is approximately the consumer price index since the fines were first introduced.
Fines for similar offences in other States have been considerably higher for some time. This Bill brings the ACT more into line with other States, with the exception of fines for speeding offences in New South Wales. In that State, fines for exceeding the speed limit have been increased more than fines for other traffic offences. This is essentially because of the recent horrific spate of crashes on the Hume Highway and other major New South Wales roads. On the spot speeding fines in New South Wales range from $81 to $750, depending on the speed and type of vehicle. ACT speeding fines will now range from $70 to $130. Mr Speaker, I stress that this Bill is essentially an interim measure pending a full review of penalties imposed under the Motor Traffic Act. I will be monitoring the effect of the increased fines over the time ahead, and I am confident that they will have a positive effect on the road environment. I now present the explanatory memorandum for this Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Moore) adjourned.
GAMING MACHINE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990
Debate resumed from 18 September, on motion by Mr Collaery:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MS FOLLETT (Leader of the Opposition) (10.53): Mr Speaker, the Opposition will not be opposing this Bill in principle. I do, however, wish to raise a number of issues surrounding the Bill and I will be moving an amendment to it.
I would like to point out that the Labor Party does have an interest in the licensed club industry in that it established, and is a significant beneficiary of, the Canberra Labor Club. I, myself, am a member of a number of ACT licensed clubs.
Mr Speaker, I am a bit concerned that the Minister whose Bill this is is not in the house. Here he comes.
Mr Humphries: Look who is talking; you are never here.
MS FOLLETT: Not when I am in charge of a Bill.
Mr Speaker, as the Minister pointed out in his presentation speech, this Bill gives effect to three decisions made by
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