The Cannabis Cautioning Scheme and the operation of speed cameras were areas of particular attention for the Public Accounts Committee’s third report on the examination of performance audit reports, Committee Chair, Jonathan O'Dea MP, announced today.
This report examined six Auditor General audits and makes ten recommendations, which are designed to improve the performance of government agencies.
The Committee is alarmed that fatal accidents where speed is involved, but is not the main cause, are not reflected accurately in the statistics reported by TfNSW. “If speed is not the only reason for the crash then this should be captured,” said Mr O’Dea. The Committee has recommended that the Parliament’s Staysafe committee assist in developing more precisely identified categories of causes of fatal crashes.
Decisions about where speed cameras are located appear to be based on imprecise statistics collected by TfNSW. “The public is rightly skeptical about where speed cameras are located” said Mr O’Dea. “The Auditor-General’s report highlighted the need for ongoing and independent monitoring of their use and location, to ensure that they remain focused on road safety rather than revenue-raising”.
“Only 38 per cent of repeat offenders currently comply with the mandatory requirement to seek counselling after their second caution under the Cannabis Cautioning Scheme” observed Mr O’Dea. “The committee is concerned that the law is being treated with disdain, which undermines respect for the legal system as a whole.”
The Committee has recommended that some action should be taken as this is a mandatory requirement under the scheme, and that offenders who do not comply should be followed up by NSW Health or NSW Police.
“The NSW public sector plays a crucial role in delivering services to the people of our state. These recommendations are about ensuring that NSW Government programs are delivered efficiently and effectively, and provide what the people of NSW deserve – the best,” Mr O’Dea emphasised.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the Committee website at http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/publicaccounts
