❓ A parliamentary question reveals potential unlawful use of Main Roads WA electronic monitoring devices. The Minister and WA Police became aware of the issue recently and are working to resolve it.
AnsweredQoN 673Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MAIN
ROADS — ELECTRONIC MONITORING
673. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the Auditor General
report titled Information systems application audit: Traffic management
system , which found that the use of Main Roads WA electronic
monitoring devices on local roads is not lawful under the Surveillance Devices
Regulations 1999.
(1) When did the
minister first become aware of the ongoing breach of Western Australian law by
Main Roads WA, which reportedly dates back to 2016?
(2) When did the Western
Australia Police Force first become aware of the breach of Western Australian
law by Main Roads WA?
(3) What action
has been taken against Main Roads WA to stop it breaching the law of Western Australia?
(4) Have WA
Police ever sought or accessed data through the Main Roads WA network of
vehicle monitoring devices?
ROADS — ELECTRONIC MONITORING
673. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the Auditor General
report titled Information systems application audit: Traffic management
system , which found that the use of Main Roads WA electronic
monitoring devices on local roads is not lawful under the Surveillance Devices
Regulations 1999.
(1) When did the
minister first become aware of the ongoing breach of Western Australian law by
Main Roads WA, which reportedly dates back to 2016?
(2) When did the Western
Australia Police Force first become aware of the breach of Western Australian
law by Main Roads WA?
(3) What action
has been taken against Main Roads WA to stop it breaching the law of Western Australia?
(4) Have WA
Police ever sought or accessed data through the Main Roads WA network of
vehicle monitoring devices?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer is provided on behalf of the
Minister for Police.
The devices referenced in the
question simply use bluetooth signals to assist with live traffic management.
They help ensure we manage traffic movements and reduce congestion. The
information is anonymised. It provides the most basic of numerical information
on traffic counts. The information is also deleted after 24 hours and replaced
a randomly generated ID, so it cannot be used to track individuals.
(1) The minister
first became aware of the report Information systems application audit:
Traffic management system when it was tabled on 14 June 2023.
(2) WA Police was provided with a copy of the Application
controls audit summary of findings by the Office of the Auditor
General on 25 May 2023.
(3) WA Police is
working with Main Roads WA to resolve the issue raised in the Auditor General's
report.
(4) WA Police
advises that a response cannot be provided, as this information falls within
the responsibilities of MRWA, or Main Roads WA.
some notice of the question. The following answer is provided on behalf of the
Minister for Police.
The devices referenced in the
question simply use bluetooth signals to assist with live traffic management.
They help ensure we manage traffic movements and reduce congestion. The
information is anonymised. It provides the most basic of numerical information
on traffic counts. The information is also deleted after 24 hours and replaced
a randomly generated ID, so it cannot be used to track individuals.
(1) The minister
first became aware of the report Information systems application audit:
Traffic management system when it was tabled on 14 June 2023.
(2) WA Police was provided with a copy of the Application
controls audit summary of findings by the Office of the Auditor
General on 25 May 2023.
(3) WA Police is
working with Main Roads WA to resolve the issue raised in the Auditor General's
report.
(4) WA Police
advises that a response cannot be provided, as this information falls within
the responsibilities of MRWA, or Main Roads WA.
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