State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has welcomed the release of data showing the number of speeding fines issued along Thomas Street, Wallsend and Griffiths Road, Lambton, since the introduction of the new speed limit in March this year.
For more than 6 months, Ms Hornery has been seeking information on speeding and crash statistics along the stretch of road and has continually been denied access to the data.
Ms Hornery had put Questions on Notice to the Roads and Police Ministers and the RMS about the reasons for the reduction and was asked to pay $450 to access data under freedom of information laws in July.
The speed camera data shows why the Government fought to keep it a secret for so long.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“For the last six months I have been asking the Government for the reasons behind the 10km/h speed limit reduction along this stretch of road.
“I can see why they wanted to keep this information quiet. The number of fines issued has skyrocketed and the Government has pocketed more than one million dollars as a result of the speed limit reduction.”
“By reducing the speed limit along this section of road, it has become a cash cow for the Government”.
“Despite this, we still don’t have the reasons behind the speed limit reduction. What is the RMS and the Minister hiding? I have repeatedly asked for the reports and the data behind this decision.”
“The Minister needs to justify why she implemented the speed limit reduction, resulting in one million dollars being gouged from commuters.”
“I will continue to fight to get the answers this Government is trying to keep from the public.”