Tanya
Giles and Jeremy Kelly
August 11, 2004
THE Bracks Government,
in an about-face, will cap compensation to motorists
who lost licences after being caught by faulty speed
cameras.
The Government yes terday
announced compensation payouts for about 3000 motorists
would be limited for claims of loss of income and travel
expenses.
Only three months ago,
Premier Steve Bracks said the ex gratia payments would
be unlimited, and made on a case-by-case basis, largely
for economic loss.
Acting Police Minister
John Lenders yesterday said motorists who collected
too many demerit points, and lost licences after being
caught on faulty fixed speed cameras on the Western
Ring Rd, would be paid compensation from a $6 million
fund.
He said motorists would
be eligible for a maximum payment of $955 a week for
loss of income, if they were employees.
The Government said the
cap was based on the Victorian adult full-time average
weekly earnings.
Compensation for business
owners will be determined case by case.
Motorists will also be
able to claim up to $230 a month for travel costs, with
an extra $100 a month for carers or drivers who cannot
use public transport because of a disability, incapacity
or illness.
A Government spokeswoman
said caps had not been imposed, but guidelines to ensure
the process was fair and reasonable.
Mr Lenders said all applications
for payments would be assessed by independent accounting
firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Letters were sent out
yesterday to about 3000 motorists telling them they
have until Tuesday, September 14, to apply for an ex
gratia payment.
Opposition transport spokesman
Terry Mulder said the Government had cheated motorists.
"It's their fault
and this compensation scheme is grossly unfair,"
Mr Mulder said. "How can you compare an 18 or 19-year-old
inconvenienced by losing their licence to drive to uni
to a family man who has lost his licence, his income
and possibly his home?"
Police will this week
send out about 41,000 letters telling drivers that speeding
fines issued on CityLink and the Monash Freeway before
November 12 will be enforced.
Another 3450 motorists
caught driving unregistered vehicles on the Monash Freeway,
CityLink and Western Ring Rd before November 12 last
year will also need to pay their fines.
Motorists will have 28
days to pay the fines for speeding and driving unregistered
cars.
About 7500 fines on Monash
Freeway, CityLink and Western Ring Rd, put on hold on
November 12, will not proceed because police had exceeded
their 12-month statute of limitations period and couldn't
enforce them.
© Herald Sun |
