Can this be the beginning of the end for speed cameras?

According to a news item sent to me by reader Gary Pearce, a Conservative government in the UK would stop funding new fixed speed cameras
Theresa Villiers, the party's transport shadow minister, speaking at the party conference in Manchester, attacked fixed speed cameras.

"Under Labour they've almost trebled. The truth is the fines they generate are blinding Labour to the proven merits of other better ways to keep our roads safe: like education, like vehicle activated signs, like traffic police."

In a move that would affect the introduction of computerised average speed automatic numberplate recognition cameras, she said a Conservative government would not provide central funding for new fixed speed cameras, and would publish data on the effectiveness of the existing ones. "If local authorities want new cameras they'll have to prove nothing else works better and they'll have to find the money themselves," she said.

Villiers added the Tories would abolish the partnerships that currently run speed cameras, and make their use more transparent. "That means publishing the information that's now kept secret on each speed camera's record on safety and on fines, so local communities can judge for themselves whether a camera should stay or whether it should go," Villiers said.

"I believe that fixed speed cameras have reached their high watermark in this country. It's time to put a stop to Labour's cash cow camera culture," she added.

Hmm. How do you think that would translate to Australia?

Peter “The Bear” Thoeming