A report from the Victorian Auditor-General has backed the technology, which brought in about $211 million revenue for the government in 2009-2010

Road safety cameras – speed and red light -- improve road safety and revenue is not the primary purpose of the program, according to a report released by the Victorian Auditor-General (VAG).

In the 90-page report, the VAG identified a number of so-called road safety camera misconceptions which included:
•   The purpose of the road safety camera program is to raise revenue;
•   Low-level speeding is safe;
•   Road safety cameras don’t reduce road trauma;
•   Road safety cameras are sited to maximise revenue;
•   Speed cameras should not be placed on freeways because freeways are safe; and
•   The cameras are faulty, as shown by the fines withdrawn from the Road Safety Act 1986.
The VAG then countered these so-called misconceptions with its own 'evidence'.
"This report, tabled in Parliament today, found Victoria's speed and red-light cameras are focused on road safety, not raising revenue," stated Victorian Deputy Premier and Police Minister Peter Ryan. "Auditor-General Des Pearson has independently validated the state's road safety camera program and quashed the common misconception these cameras are revenue raisers."
However, the report does admit that ““Any program that aims to deter dangerous and risky behaviour through the use of fines will generate revenue,” fine so far, “but this is demonstrably not the primary purpose of the road safety camera program. In fact, more revenue could be raised through tightening operational policies that provide for some leniency to speeding drivers and therefore reduce the number of infringements issued.” Really? This would be the leniency that currently allows a margin of error of 3km/h, a speed differential so small that you can’t see it on your speedo dial, would it?
According to Mr Ryan, the report "underscored the fairness" of Victoria Police’s approach to issuing infringements from the road safety camera program.
The VAG concluded that the ongoing use of road safety cameras as an enforcement tool remains appropriate. The report continued: “The supporting technology used and the way the camera system operates provides a high degree of confidence that infringements are issued only where there is clear evidence of speeding or red-light running.

And that’s it? That’s a road safety program? Fine everyone who speeds and everything will be all right? Don’t make me laugh. And don’t believe these people, either.
Peter “The Bear” Thoeming