Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:614;Page:10452] 
12.  
Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: Has he considered introducing demerit points on speed camera tickets; if so what recommendations if any is he proposing to his Cabinet colleagues on this matter? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 Yes but I am not telling. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: In making a recommendation to his Cabinet colleagues did he tell his colleagues that in Victoria which does have demerit points for speed camera tickets it is not uncommon for family members to transfer demerit points between themselves to avoid getting a disqualification period and in some companies it is not unheard of for the receptionist to accept demerit points so that top salespeople can keep their cars on the roads; and does this not show what a mockery such a policy would be? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: There is a range of issues around demerit points for speed camera tickets. If the member would like further information on the issues in relation to Victoria I am happy to show it to him. But those issues need to be considered carefully and Cabinet is doing just that. 
Lynne Pillay 
: What indication has he received about public attitudes to speed? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: There is growing support for a tougher line to be taken against speeding on our roads. For example an NBR poll in September this year showed that 57 percent of people supported demerit points for speed camera tickets. Given that one-third of all fatal accidents were primarily speed related I am keen to hear a lot more from those whose families have suffered the consequences of speeding and a little less from those who want to drive as fast as they like. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Is the Government considering introducing demerit points for other transport matters such as driving a tractor up the steps of Parliament or does the Minister think he will end up with egg on his face as the Government and the police have done today with the dropping of charges against Shane Ardern MP? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: In so far as that relates to the Minister’s responsibility he may comment briefly. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: No and no. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: In advising his Cabinet colleagues to consider demerit points as in Victoria did the Minister tell them that Victoria’s road toll has remained virtually unchanged in the past 10 years yet New Zealand’s has dropped by 37 percent in the same period and did he tell his Cabinet colleagues that the New South Wales road toll has fallen by only 3 percent over the same period despite motorists sometimes being hit with double demerit points? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Of course the mess that has been made with those statistics really does not deserve comment but I will just say that New Zealand comes off a higher base. The truth is that Victoria has plateaued out and is looking at a range of new measures. Victoria is looking here at some of the things we are doing. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: I seek leave to table research that shows that Victoria’s road toll has remained static in the last 10 years while New Zealand’s has dropped by 37 percent without having demerit points for speed cameras tickets as Victoria has. 
Document not tabled.