Your State, Your Voice- The Mercury, February 18, 2006.

I read with interest the proposed scheme by the Tasmanian Greens that would see higher income Tasmanians pay dearer traffic infringement fines than lower-income earners.

This type of scheme also seems to have the support of the Tasmanian Council of Social Service chief Mat Rowell who said in the article “TasCoss would campaign for an income-based fine and punishment system”. I thought the responsibility of groups like the Tasmanian Greens and Social Service organisations would be to support the current roar safety messages and other programs directed at the drivers on our roads.

The Greens’ scheme is not focussing on drivers within the law, but tells drivers to keep going the way they are now because you, the higher income Tasmanians, can afford any fine you may get and for you, the lower-income earners, we will reduce your fine to one you can pay.

Is this a scheme that is going to prevent accidents and save lives? I don’t think so.

We should be looking at ways to prevent these traffic infringements in the first place and not just work on a scheme of how much you can pay when you break the law.

I was taught when growing up, laws were made for a reason and if you break one of them you pay the penalty.

Tony Scott, Liberal Candidate for Franklin.