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Local government

Speeding Fines Revenue Sparks Debate Over Local Road Funding in Tasmania

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Tasmanian local councils are seeking to tap into the state government's growing revenue from speeding fines to fund local road projects, citing the significant increase in fines since the introduction of mobile speed cameras. The Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) has made this a priority for the upcoming state election, urging politicians to invest the revenue in local road infrastructure.

Key Takeaways:

  • The state government has generated $10 million in fines since the introduction of mobile speed cameras in 2022 and early 2024.
  • The state government spent $542.3 million on upgrading and maintaining the state roads network in 2023-24, with $282.7 million allocated for the new Bridgewater Bridge and $121.2 million for maintenance.
  • LGAT is pushing for councils to receive a bigger share of funds from the state heavy vehicle motor tax, which currently generates around $30 million per year, but only provides $1.5 million to local government.
  • The LGAT president, Mick Tucker, argues that councils manage 80% of Tasmania's road network, yet only receive a fraction of the heavy vehicle motor tax revenue.

Statistics:

  • $10 million in fines were generated since the introduction of mobile speed cameras in 2022 and early 2024.
  • $542.3 million was spent on upgrading and maintaining the state roads network in 2023-24.
  • 44 road and bridge projects were completed during the 2023-24 financial year.
  • $282.7 million was allocated for the new Bridgewater Bridge.
  • $121.2 million was allocated for road maintenance.
  • $11 million was spent on road safety initiatives, including $2.5 million for small infrastructure projects to help vulnerable road users.
  • Around $30 million is collected per year by the state government from the heavy vehicle motor tax.
  • Only $1.5 million of the heavy vehicle motor tax revenue is provided to local government.

Sources:

  • Tasmanian councils are gazing lustfully at the state government's large and growing income from speeding fines.
  • (Source: Local Government Association of Tasmania)
  • The state government funds or co-funds a range of local road projects, as well as work on the highways.
  • (Source: State Growth Department)
  • A further $11 million was spent on road safety initiatives.
  • (Source: State Growth Department)
  • LGAT also continued to push for councils to get a bigger share of funds from the state heavy vehicle motor tax.
  • (Source: LGAT website)
  • The LGAT president and Break O'Day mayor Mick Tucker said councils had been asking for a fairer share of the heavy vehicle motor tax for many years.
  • (Source: Sean Ford article)

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