Page 2245 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 June 2005

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accidents—from crashes involving injuries to ones that now involve property damage only.

For the benefit of all members, I advise that the installation in 2002 of cameras at Hindmarsh Drive and the Tuggeranong Parkway resulted in a 78 per cent reduction; the intersection at Northbourne Avenue, Mouat Street and Antill Street has had a reduction of 51 per cent; the Northbourne Avenue-London Circuit intersection, camera installed in 2002, has had an 18 per cent reduction; Ginninderra Drive-Coulter Drive, camera installed in 2001, has had a 51 per cent reduction; Barry Drive-Marcus Clarke, camera installed in 2001, a 69 per cent reduction; Northbourne Avenue and Barry Drive, a 64 per cent reduction; Drakeford-Marconi, a 4.5 per cent reduction; and Hindmarsh Drive-Yamba Drive, a 67 per cent reduction.

As you can see, all these locations have seen a decline. There has been an increase at the intersection of Ginninderra Drive and Aikman Drive only, camera installed in 2001. There has been an increase of five accidents in that time—in four years it has increased by five.

The decisions about where to place the speed and red light cameras are based on advice from the camera enforcement safety management committee, comprising road safety experts from DUS, AFP and the NRMA. The recommendation of location is based on speed-related crash history and current speed surveys. I have asked DUS to take the site of Ginninderra and Aikman to the committee for re-examination to see what should be done with it.

As part of the government’s road safety strategy, the 2005-06 budget allocated just over $1 million in new funding for the purchase of three new speed cameras—two of which will be fixed—and the upgrade of existing ones. An additional $759,000 has been allocated for the next four years to operate the new cameras. I am currently waiting on advice from the committee as to the best locations.

Fixed red light and speed cameras form part of an overall road safety package, which includes mobile speed cameras, and initiatives and enforcement by ACT policing. I look forward to seeing a further decline in accidents. This is another case of Mr Pratt asking the wrong question of the wrong person and getting it wrong again.

Policing

MR PRATT: Mr Speaker, my question is to the minister for police. Is it standard practice for ACT police to call a locksmith to gain entry to premises where the police hold reasonable grounds, such as following the receipt of a 000 call, to believe that a serious crime has been committed?

MR HARGREAVES: I rely on the operational integrity of the police. I would rather that they get a locksmith in expeditiously. It clearly was expeditiously performed. I have no intention—

Opposition members interjecting—

MR HARGREAVES: of following Mr Pratt’s terrific ideas of having—


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