Maitland Mercury The Sunday Times - 01 February 2008

Western Australian MPs racked up thousands of dollars in speeding fines last year in their taxpayer-funded cars, a special Freedom of Information probe revealed.

But the Government has refused to reveal the names of the MPs, though The Sunday Times has discovered they include Attorney-General Jim McGinty and Liberal leader Troy Buswell.

The Sunday Times has obtained copies of 34 traffic-infringement notices, under a Freedom of Information application.

In some cases our lawmakers --who talk toughabout roadsafety-- were driving nearly 30km over the speed limit,reachingspeeds of up to 124km/h and copping $500 fines as a result.

The lead-foot pollies paid nearly $7000 in fines last year foroffences in 2006 and 2007.

One politician was caught speeding on Christmas Eve and another MPwas nabbed on New Year's Day -- holiday periods when politicians urge the public need to drive safely.

The FOI application by The Sunday Times was initially rejected. The Department of Premier and Cabinet would only confirm 34 politicians had copped speeding fines. After an appeal, an internal review was conducted and more details were released.

The department refused to release the names of the errant MPs, citing their right to privacy. However, several owned up after being canvassed by The Sunday Times.

They include Attorney-General Jim McGinty, Liberal leader Troy Buswell, Liberal deputy leader Kim Hames, Energy Minister Fran Logan, shadow treasurer Steve Thomas and Local Government Minister Ljiljianna Ravlich.

In a day of confessions:
* Mr Hames admitted getting two speeding tickets for doing 77km/h in a 70km/h zone and 87km/h in an 80km/h zone near Mandurah.

* Mr Thomas admitted being pinged for doing 120km/h in a 110km/h stretch on the Old Coast Rd.

* Mr Logan admitted being fined $100 and losing one demerit point for exceeding the 90km/h speed limit on the Perth to Yanchep road by between 10km/h and 19km/h in 2006.

* Ms Ravlich admitted receiving a $100 fine and losing one demerit point for doing 70km/h in a 60km/h zone on Stirling Highway.

* Mr Buswell admitted receiving speeding tickets in October and December 2006. He said he lost no demerit points for speeding in December, but lost one point for doing 90km/h in an 80km/h zone near Mandurah.

Mr McGinty said he could not remember details of his driving offence.

"Obviously we all have to be mindful of the road rules but from time-to-time people do exceed the speed limit and politicians are no different to others,'' Mr Buswell said.

But Premier Alan Carpenter said he had not had any speeding fines in two years, and politicians should lead by example.

"The simple message is that speed kills and politicians should be leading by example,' he said. "I hope those caught learned a valuable lesson.''

Police Minister John Kobelke agreed that the state's lawmakers needed to practice what they preached.

"Politicians as community leaders need to set an example, even if some of us fail from time to time,'' he said.

"Those who break the law will pay the appropriate penalty.''

But Road Safety Council independent chair Grant Dorrington took a more sympathetic view.

Mr Dorrington, who confessed to having lost his licence at 18 when he reversed into a car, said politicians were no different to anyone else and made mistakes.

"I think MPs are only human,'' he said. "They are just ordinary people given positions in parliament.

"At times, you can lose your concentration and be five or 6km over. "The real issue is people who do it (speeding) regularly.''

The FOI findings also revealed delays in issuing speeding tickets. It had taken police five months to send out some notices.

Assistant Commissioner of Police John McRoberts this week called for infringement management and speed camera operations to be privatised.

"We don't believe they are core police functions,'' he said.

"We also believe that another government department or agency or a private company is better suited to this function.''