Councils eye a slice of fine pie

QUEENSLAND councils would be given a slice of the millions of dollars in revenue generated from speeding fines under a proposal put forward by the state’s peak local government body.

The Local Government Association of Queensland will try to lobby the Palaszczuk Government for councils to be given a 10 per cent share of the speed camera revenue generated on local roads.

They argue that the majority of serious crashes occur on local roads and councils deserve a share of the revenue for their own road safety projects.

The idea is set to be discussed this week as councils across the state converge on Brisbane for the LGAQ’s annual conference.

LGAQ chief executive Greg Hallam said the body believed it was a responsible proposal that would lead to safety improvements for council-owned roads. “We’re not being silly, it’s not over the top,” he said.

“As a level of government (we) raise three per cent of all taxation in Australia, but we’re responsible for 33 per cent of the nation’s infrastructure.

“There needs to be a change in policy more focused on eliminating deaths where they occur, which is on local roads.”

The idea is yet to be endorsed as a policy of the LGAQ and the body insists it is not after money generated from speed cameras on state-owned roads. Last year, the State Government hauled in more than $93 million from fines issued from mobile speed cameras.