Media Release | 3 September 2026
Hon. Julie Freeman MLC
Shadow Minister for Road Safety
Shadow Minister for Road Safety Julie Freeman MLC says WA Police are being forced to drop hundreds of AI camera seatbelt fines exposing the Cook Labor Government’s failure to properly manage the rollout.
“Police Commissioner Col Blanch has confirmed that hundreds of AI camera seatbelt infringements have been abandoned because there was ‘no reasonable prospect’ of securing a conviction,” Ms Freeman said.
“That is not a failure of policing. It is police exercising sound judgement with the laws and resources they have been given.
“The failure sits squarely with the Cook Labor Government, which rolled out this system without properly addressing the practical and legal issues that are now emerging.”
More than 81,000 seatbelt infringements have been issued since the AI cameras were switched on, with around 5,700 already overturned through the review process. WA Police have now confirmed hundreds more are being dropped after they are challenged.
“At what point does the Government admit this is more than a teething problem?” Ms Freeman said.
“With thousands of fines overturned and hundreds more abandoned, Western Australians are entitled to question whether this system was ready for rollout.
Ms Freeman said the consequences were being felt far beyond individual motorists.
“The Cook Labor Government has poured more than $100 million from the Road Trauma Trust Account into processing and administering the flood of infringements generated by these cameras.
“That is Road Trauma Trust Account money that could have gone to black spot upgrades, regional road improvements and driver education. Instead, it is being swallowed up by bureaucracy processing fines and appeals.”
Ms Freeman said the revelation is the latest sign of a Road Safety portfolio without direction.
“Jessica Stojkovski is now the fifth Minister for Road Safety this Government has had since 2017, and Western Australians are still waiting to hear what she intends to do differently to her predecessors to bring the road toll down.
“Rolling out more cameras is clearly not the answer when the Government can’t get the basics right on the cameras it already has.
“Western Australians support fair and effective road safety enforcement, not lengthy reviews and court battles over fines the Government ultimately cannot defend.
“The Minister must explain why police, court and Road Trauma Trust Account resources are being diverted to fix problems created by this rollout instead of supporting frontline road safety measures.
“Road safety policy should be about saving lives, not burdening drivers, police and the courts with the consequences of poor Government decision-making.”
ENDS
