The Cook Government is set to rake in nearly half a billion dollars in additional fine revenue through its expanded rollout of AI road safety cameras, with a new permanent detection device now installed on the Mitchell Freeway near Vincent Street in Leederville.
New Camera Location and Timeline
The fixed seat belt and mobile phone offence detection camera will become operational on June 1, 2026. A six-month grace period will follow, during which drivers will receive cautions for seat belt and phone offences. Actual infringements will begin to be issued from December 1, 2026. This marks the third permanent safety camera in Western Australia, following two units set up on the Kwinana Freeway last year.
Revenue Projections and Minister's Comments
Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby stated that the state expects to collect $440 million in extra fine revenue over the next four years from these cameras. He noted that while the rate of offending has declined dramatically, revenue continues to increase as the technology is deployed more widely. Whitby expressed optimism that eventually, behavioural changes would lead to a decline in revenue. He said, "There will come a point, and I’m looking forward to it, when we’ve got the technology out there and the result is such that there’s been so much change behaviour that our revenues start to decline. I would be a very happy Road Safety Minister if I had $0 coming in because no one was offending."
Controversy and Fine Cancellations
The rollout of mobile AI cameras has sparked significant public anger, with many motorists claiming fines are unfair. Between October 8 and April 17, nearly 300 fines were issued daily, but over the same period, more than $1 million in fines were cancelled on appeal. The backlash forced the Department of Transport to review its policy, leading to a change that waives multiple infringements for the same offence if the driver had not yet received the first fine notice.
When asked whether similar leniency would apply to the new fixed camera, Minister Whitby declined to confirm, stating, "We’ll look at the data and see what that’s telling us and if there are people who are offending and who need that assistance, we will consider it."
