Calls to sack minister for speeding once a year!

[Vulture]

What a joke this country is coming to. The guy was caught speeding four times in four years. BIG DEAL. Some are calling him a "serial speeder" and there is some suggestion he should be sacked! We really have become the nanny country.

LINK (http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/im-no-serial-speeder-says-minister/2006/11/07/1162661661146.html)

Article from SMH

NSW Local Government Minister Kerry Hickey has confessed to being caught and fined four times in four years for speeding - three times as a minister and once as backbencher.

The new information about his offences was released in what the minister said was a statement of "clarification''.

It stated that he had been fined $590 in October 2006 for being more than 30kmh over the limit; $225 in August 2005 for being more than 15kmh over the limit, with fines of $127 and $118 in 2003 and 2002 for the similar offences.

Earlier today he told the Premier Morris Iemma about one speeding ticket last month.

Later he admitted at a media conference that he had been caught twice driving too fast in a ministerial car.

But at 3 pm he issued a statement outlining all four offences and fines totalling $1060.

He said he had "sought clarification of my driving record from the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) ... in the interests of full disclosure and transparency''.

The revelation is likely to fuel calls for Mr Hickey to be sacked.

But Mr Iemma is sticking by the minister, saying only that Mr Hickey should take a driver education course before returning to the road.

"As I have said previously, members of Parliament who represent the community must set the highest standards of behaviour,'' the Premier said in a three-sentence statement.

Earlier Mr Iemma said: "I'm disappointed that it happened. Like any other motorist, no one is above the law, whether you are a minister, a member of Parliament or a member of the general public. He has apologised, I've accepted that.

"Is it a sackable offence? No, but I am very disappointed that it has happened. He's suffering public humiliation as a result. It's a sobering reminder about everyone's behaviour behind the wheel.

"I believe he's paid a sufficient penalty. The loss of his licence, the public humiliation and I've accepted his apology."

"The Premier was annoyed about the whole issue," Mr Hickey said.

Both of Mr Hickey's fines occurred while he was driving his V8 Holden Calais.

Mr Hickey said he had "no problem with serial speeding".

He was also caught speeding at least once as a backbencher.

[RIDE:42]

where did he get his tune from?

[keepleft]

140km/h on a country road, 124km/h on the F3 in its 110km/h zone and a couple of others.

I agree, the nagging opposition need to realise that maybe, just maybe, our damned speed limits are effing SLOW and make criminals of otherwise decent people that once in this state - were driving within the law, circa 1978.

Bring back prima facie (//) AND apply it to the F3 north of Gosford after full median barrier installation, and on some key remote highways. Reduce the fine for 'radar detector use and possession' to level 1 - $75, and instead focuss on lousy driver behaviour, by REMOVING the NSW Traffic Police FORCE from LAC structure *completely*, and get them back on the road full-time where they damned well belong.

Help finance that by increasing the levels of existing 'behavioural' fines.

Purchase Hella Part Number 2901 for your car, for use at breakdowns and crash scenes-to prevent secondary. A Euro/World standard hazard warning triangle!!

[German Statesman]

What a joke this country is coming to. The guy was caught speeding four times in four years. BIG DEAL. Some are calling him a "serial speeder" and there is some suggestion he should be sacked! We really have become the nanny country.

LINK (http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/im-no-serial-speeder-says-minister/2006/11/07/1162661661146.html)

Article from SMH

NSW Local Government Minister Kerry Hickey has confessed to being caught and fined four times in four years for speeding - three times as a minister and once as backbencher.

The new information about his offences was released in what the minister said was a statement of "clarification''.

It stated that he had been fined $590 in October 2006 for being more than 30kmh over the limit; $225 in August 2005 for being more than 15kmh over the limit, with fines of $127 and $118 in 2003 and 2002 for the similar offences.

Earlier today he told the Premier Morris Iemma about one speeding ticket last month.

Later he admitted at a media conference that he had been caught twice driving too fast in a ministerial car.

But at 3 pm he issued a statement outlining all four offences and fines totalling $1060.

He said he had "sought clarification of my driving record from the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) ... in the interests of full disclosure and transparency''.

The revelation is likely to fuel calls for Mr Hickey to be sacked.

But Mr Iemma is sticking by the minister, saying only that Mr Hickey should take a driver education course before returning to the road.

"As I have said previously, members of Parliament who represent the community must set the highest standards of behaviour,'' the Premier said in a three-sentence statement.

Earlier Mr Iemma said: "I'm disappointed that it happened. Like any other motorist, no one is above the law, whether you are a minister, a member of Parliament or a member of the general public. He has apologised, I've accepted that.

"Is it a sackable offence? No, but I am very disappointed that it has happened. He's suffering public humiliation as a result. It's a sobering reminder about everyone's behaviour behind the wheel.

"I believe he's paid a sufficient penalty. The loss of his licence, the public humiliation and I've accepted his apology."

"The Premier was annoyed about the whole issue," Mr Hickey said.

Both of Mr Hickey's fines occurred while he was driving his V8 Holden Calais.

Mr Hickey said he had "no problem with serial speeding".

He was also caught speeding at least once as a backbencher.

Can someone tell me WHY this country labels speeders as criminals????

Lapses in concentration are normal when driving - even Michael Schumacher remarked he thought about mundane things while driving in races - an increase in speed is possible, so why de-nut someone about it???

:cussing: :argue:

Where's Harold Scruby? I'm in the mood for an argument :toetap: :soap: :flamin: :mad: :rocket: :biggun: :machinegun: :outlaw:

:D

JOHN

[Goggles]

and why is the car he was driving relevant - seems to be a nice beat up by the SMH.

[EfiJy]

and why is the car he was driving relevant - seems to be a nice beat up by the SMH.

ive seen people speeding in hyundais. wtf? :werd:

[Jac001]

Thru our company lease scheme if we had for speeding fines in 4 years we would lose the car, so why are tax payers paying for a MP to speed in a government funded car?

[Vulture]

Thru our company lease scheme if we had for speeding fines in 4 years we would lose the car, so why are tax payers paying for a MP to speed in a government funded car?

Just sounds like a way to reduce the fleet costs to me...oh you've been speeding, give the car back thanks. Maybe if you had a certain number of bingles that'd be a better measure.

People will have to accept that in this age of over-the-top speed enforcement the chance of getting caught gets greater every year. To demonise someone for the odd ticket, and once a year is not much if you do a lot of driving, is plain namby pampy nonsense and bears no relationship to crash frequency.

[AussieTone]

Gee if this is the worst our country has to worry about we must be in pretty good shape. The worst bit about all this is someone got paid to research and report on this trivia.

Give me a break…… :sleep:

[mark78]

It sure has been a bad week for the Iemma Govt.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/sex-charges-minister-sacked/2006/11/08/1162661724577.html

[Devil CV8]

I don't care about the speeding, I want to know why he doesn't cop the automatic 3 month suspension for exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km/h and less than 45km/h......

[seldo]

I don't care about the speeding, I want to know why he doesn't cop the automatic 3 month suspension for exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km/h and less than 45km/h......
See original press release
Iemma: "I believe he's paid a sufficient penalty. The loss of his licence, the public humiliation and I've accepted his apology."

[brentonsav]

i dont know about anyone else but i couldnt give a f**k about polies and thier personal lives. all i care about it what impact they have on me.

dont tell me about their speeding fines, tell me about how thier governments policies could be better!

4 times in four years... who cares. some ppl get caught four times in a day!

[Devil CV8]

See original press release
Iemma: "I believe he's paid a sufficient penalty. The loss of his licence, the public humiliation and I've accepted his apology."

the first report I saw on it said he didn't lose his license. If he did, that means the rules work (even though I don't agree with them)

[Marco]

and why is the car he was driving relevant - seems to be a nice beat up by the SMH.

Because the SMH has it in for Holden. I've noticed this since the VE was launched and next day's headline was all about how it was bigger, heavier, and probably thirstier. Ever since then, every time Holden is mentioned there's some remark about fuel economy and how bad the whole thing is for the planet. When I wrote in to defend Holden it was not published, but some plonker who wrote in to ask why Holden didn't develop a small hybrid car instead did.

Maybe the SMH is just pandering to the prejudices of what it sees as its upmarket inner city audience, because everyone knows that Holden drivers live out in the nasty bogan suburbs that the SMH doesn't like either.

Well, Herald people, I grew up in Liverpool, I like Holdens, and I read the SMH. Would you like me to stop?

(Okay, deep breath, rant over now. Thank you for your patience).

[bermudablue]

Heaps of people speed but pollies shouldn't be blattin round in V8's and
wasting my tax dollars!!

[Marco]

Your tax dollars are wasted on far more serious things than MPs getting around in V8s...

Having said that, if I was an MP I wouldn't get a V8 on the taxpayer purse simply because of the public perception problems as demonstrated by bermudablue's post. In fact, I'm a bit surprised that NSW MPs are even allowed to get them (but I wholeheartedly support it!)

[bermudablue]

Your tax dollars are wasted on far more serious things than MPs getting around in V8s...

And dont I know it....Just one rort of many they have up there sleeves

[Marco]

Actually I mean more the stupid things that Government as a whole wastes money on (I'm a bureaucrat, I should know...) rather than MP entitlements which really aren't that generous all things considered....but that's getting totally, utterly off topic so I'll stop right here :)

[bermudablue]

me too:)......but

[Merlin]

The Daily Telegraph really beat this up yesterday and were calling for Morris to sack him and also to toughen up speed enforcement. Todays letters section will no doubt be full of whining namby pambies calling for tougher speed enforcement.

[SS Enforcer]

I believe that any Government minister should have their driving record published and every speeding offence listed .

They should also be sacked if they exceed the limit by 15 kph or more.

Maybe then the govt will realise the stupidity of their insane road laws.

The good thing about speed cameras is that lots of pollies and celebrities get caught as well .

We all know you have to be wealthy to get justice here in this country but trying beating a speed camera almost impossible. [I know its been done but bloody rare though ] .

[kiwikid]

The real issue of poor driver education and poor roads is masked by "Speeding" all the time, and having a politician caught speeding just makes it a popular beat up topic and helps deflect the questions from the real issues.
Harold Scrubby will no doubt make a comment on this as he is an"expert" on these issues. I'm not concerned about him speeding but would be ***sed off If he had pulled strings and got off the fines and loss of licence.

[Vulture]

I believe that any Government minister should have their driving record published and every speeding offence listed .

They should also be sacked if they exceed the limit by 15 kph or more.

Maybe then the govt will realise the stupidity of their insane road laws..

I like this idea.

[Ghosn]

If you only get caught speeding once a year, it's a good year.

[chook]

Maybe then the govt will realise the stupidity of their insane road laws.] .

Now come on, be realistic, the government couldn't change the road rules, they would loose to much revenue.

The problem here is the pitiful journalistic sensationalism that we have to read here in Australia "Day in & Day Out". Are we really that sad that this is the only crap that makes Headlines.
Who gives a flying &*&^% if this guy got caught speeding or not, it has no bearing on his ability to do his job. If we were all judged this way we would all be unemployed, even the idiots who report this crap. Some Journos have alot to answer for in this Country, they sensationalise everything not to mention their "One Eyed view" of sport, but that's another soap box,

If the News didn't make such a fuss about this, nobody would care.

End of Rant1

[Vulture]

I suppose this ridiculous story was put into perspective by the alleged paedophile other minister, eh?

[nang3]

WTF??"? Speeding 4 times in 4 years?????? Why isnt he dead??? he was speeding wasnt he?? all speeding kills everyone doesnt it??

lucky he didnt lose his licence or he would have to be chauffeured around for free in a nice LTD/Caprice the whole time

[chops]

The only reason I would agree with a minister being sacked for something like this was if he was the minister for road safety or something like that.

[keepleft]

I'd let him be regardless if he was Minster for Roads or not.

Note the comments as to 'design speed' of national highways.

http://www.ntnews.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,20707308,00.html


Purchase Hella Part Number 2901 for your car, for use at breakdowns and crash scenes-to prevent secondary. A Euro/World standard hazard warning triangle!!

[SS Enforcer]

Now come on, be realistic, the government couldn't change the road rules, they would loose to much revenue.

The problem here is the pitiful journalistic sensationalism that we have to read here in Australia "Day in & Day Out". Are we really that sad that this is the only crap that makes Headlines.
Who gives a flying &*&^% if this guy got caught speeding or not, it has no bearing on his ability to do his job. If we were all judged this way we would all be unemployed, even the idiots who report this crap. Some Journos have alot to answer for in this Country, they sensationalise everything not to mention their "One Eyed view" of sport, but that's another soap box,

If the News didn't make such a fuss about this, nobody would care.

End of Rant1

It has nothing to do with revenue raising ... DON'T you read the papers !!!! It's all about ROAD safety :woot:

I too am sick of the gutter press and their muck raking journalism .

It seems to me that policy isn't designed to serve our interest it's designed to appease the media throng. It's all about how will the media interpret policy and events, our reaction or non reaction have nothing to do with it.

The media barons have far too much influence today, Rupert has tapped little Johnny on the shoulder so he won't win another election, the trouble for him is that he doesn't know it yet.

I can't stand advertising so I listen to the ABC , but we still get the daily ratings driven crap foisted upon us .

And the minister at the centre of the STORM has been saved by an alleged paedophile .

I have a mate that lives outside of Braidwood, he doesn't listen to any radio or read any papers for weeks at a time , his is a peacefull existence:D


cheers