The Victorian government has appointed former County Court Judge Gordon Lewis as the country’s first independent Road Safety Camera Commissioner with the aim of increasing integrity measures around speed and red light cameras.

 

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Peter Ryan said recent Auditor-General's report, instigated by the Coalition Government, found speed and red-light cameras were accurate and focused on saving lives, not on raising revenue.

 

"The Coalition Government's appointment of a Camera Commissioner will ensure motorists have an independent avenue to check the validity of Victoria's road safety camera system."

 

Mr Ryan said Judge Lewis would have the power to review and investigate any aspect of the camera system and make recommendations to government based on his investigations.

 

"The Commissioner will report to Parliament on an annual basis and his findings will also help to inform the Coalition Government's road safety strategy," Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said, in addition to being a former member of the County Court, Mr Lewis had extensive experience working across government, having overseen the review of integrity assurances in the Victorian racing industry.

 

The Road Safety Camera Commissioner's office will perform the following roles:

  • quality assurance and reporting: to independently monitor and review current camera operations.
  • investigation and review: any part of the system at his own choosing, or if requested by the Minister to do so.
  • complaints management: so any person who feels they have been hard-done-by can lodge a complaint with the Camera Commissioner, though it will not be his role to intervene in individual cases; and
  • reference group: the Camera Commissioner will be able to establish a reference group of external advisors to assist him in his role.