❓ Mr. Love questions the Transport Minister about the alleged illegal use of traffic monitoring devices on local roads by Main Roads WA. The Minister acknowledges the issue, denies individual tracking, and states they are working to rectify the regulatory definition.
AnsweredQoN 376Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TRAFFIC — MONITORING DEVICES
376. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Auditor General's
twenty-fifth report tabled today entitled Information systems application
audit: Traffic management system , which outlines that Main Roads WA has been
illegally using traffic monitoring devices on local roads since 2016.
This information could potentially be used to track individuals.
(1) When did the minister first
become aware of this breach of the law?
(2) Will the minister direct Main Roads to immediately
comply with the Surveillance Devices Regulations 1999 around the use of
illegal monitoring devices on local roads?
376. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Auditor General's
twenty-fifth report tabled today entitled Information systems application
audit: Traffic management system , which outlines that Main Roads WA has been
illegally using traffic monitoring devices on local roads since 2016.
This information could potentially be used to track individuals.
(1) When did the minister first
become aware of this breach of the law?
(2) Will the minister direct Main Roads to immediately
comply with the Surveillance Devices Regulations 1999 around the use of
illegal monitoring devices on local roads?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) First of all, the Auditor General found no
evidence to show that people were being tracked across our roads . I want
to explain the situation. We have a number of bluetooth sensors. There are
always calls to improve the network here or parts of the road system there. One
of the key things we have is the bluetooth sensors, which help to monitor
congestion and travel times. They have been successfully rolled out across the
highway and main road network. The relevant regulation refers to allowing the
monitoring of traffic on a highway or a main road. It has now been discovered
that ''a highway or a main road'' does not apply to local roads.
Main Roads is working with the relevant agency—that would be the Western
Australia Police Force—to change the definition to include ''road''.
In relation to the devices along local roads, Main Roads had entered into
agreements and local governments were aware of what was being rolled out. In
relation to when I first became aware, I received a briefing yesterday, and, of
course, we will work to make sure that we clear up any outstanding issues.
Let us get to the point: there was
no illegal monitoring of people. The sensors are to assess traffic counts and movements and there are regulations on how
that information is used. It is essential information for how we improve
our roads across the state. Without this information, we cannot say what levels
of congestion we have or where we should spend on infrastructure. As I said, we
are working with relevant agencies to amend those definitions. All sensors were
placed with the approval and support of the local government. There is no
evidence and no proof and no claim from the Auditor General that the sensors
have been used to monitor people.
evidence to show that people were being tracked across our roads . I want
to explain the situation. We have a number of bluetooth sensors. There are
always calls to improve the network here or parts of the road system there. One
of the key things we have is the bluetooth sensors, which help to monitor
congestion and travel times. They have been successfully rolled out across the
highway and main road network. The relevant regulation refers to allowing the
monitoring of traffic on a highway or a main road. It has now been discovered
that ''a highway or a main road'' does not apply to local roads.
Main Roads is working with the relevant agency—that would be the Western
Australia Police Force—to change the definition to include ''road''.
In relation to the devices along local roads, Main Roads had entered into
agreements and local governments were aware of what was being rolled out. In
relation to when I first became aware, I received a briefing yesterday, and, of
course, we will work to make sure that we clear up any outstanding issues.
Let us get to the point: there was
no illegal monitoring of people. The sensors are to assess traffic counts and movements and there are regulations on how
that information is used. It is essential information for how we improve
our roads across the state. Without this information, we cannot say what levels
of congestion we have or where we should spend on infrastructure. As I said, we
are working with relevant agencies to amend those definitions. All sensors were
placed with the approval and support of the local government. There is no
evidence and no proof and no claim from the Auditor General that the sensors
have been used to monitor people.
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