Vic speed camera audit just politics?

analysis The Victorian Deputy Premier and Police Minister Peter Ryan this week announced a review of the state's speed camera network in response to plummeting confidence in the system, but will the audit be anything more than a political football game?

Is Victoria's speed camera review just a game of political football? (I don't really understand football but it's fun to photograph image by Better than bacon, CC2.0)

Speed cameras have long been a bone of contention in the state. In 2004, speed cameras supplied by Poltech International on Victoria's Western ring road were shut off with fines and demerit points refunded to all offenders. Late last year, it was also revealed that fines had been incorrectly issued using readings taken from Redflex speed cameras.

Experts close to the issue have told ZDNet Australia that an effective review of the state's speed camera infrastructure would involve the office of the state's Auditor-General looking into every single speed and red light camera site to determine the effectiveness of the technology behind the camera itself and how the cameras are procured and deployed at the outset.

Other issues confronting the speed camera system include where and how radar equipment measures a motorist in the field. Challenges include the presence of light, reflections from cars and signs, lens glare, shadows and other environmental factors.

The scope of the review was laid out in a letter sent by the Deputy Premier to the state's Auditor-General on 25 January. It is set to include a performance audit of the integrity of the technology and processes used in fixed and mobile speed cameras, as well as a technical review of all speed monitoring devices used by the state's police service. But this seems to indicate that the investigation will be on a device level. Will it go further to decommission cameras that are ineffective in their current locations, or even replace camera systems across the board due to poorly tested implementation? Deputy Premier Ryan says that the decision lies with the Auditor-General.

"At the end of the day, the Auditor-General is independent of government and he can investigate whatever is necessary to restore integrity to the speed camera system," ZDNet Australia was told by Ryan's office today.

"We set out some key points but it can be as far reaching as the Auditor-General sees fit. The minister would look forward to all of the measures that are being raised for speed cameras being investigated."

The Auditor-General's office said that it never comments on ongoing audits.

After the review is completed, the government will appoint a Road Safety Camera Commissioner to keep tabs on the speed camera system, providing advice to the government via an annual report to Parliament. They will also monitor the testing and certification of the technology behind the system and handle complaints accordingly. But the position may be all smoke given that it lacks any real law enforcement powers if it is determined that a site is faulty.

Do you think that the review will be effective?