A single speed camera in Sydney’s Cross City Tunnel has generated $10.98 million in revenue from fines, the highest of any camera in the city, as new figures show the NSW government collected nearly $325 million from speed and red light enforcement fines.
The westbound camera in the Cross City Tunnel racked up 23,548 fines, totalling $10,983,817. A southbound camera in the Rozelle interchange captured 27,643 infringements, costing $9,969,681 in fines.
Jeanitta Lee was fined for four speeding offences on inner-Sydney roads over one week in September, two of them six minutes apart. The fines cost her $1,268 and nine demerit points. Lee, who was driving 84km/h in a 60km/h zone at 3.22am on one occasion and 74km/h in the same zone three days earlier, said she recognised she was speeding but thought the amount was too high.
“I didn’t even make that much money that day,” she said. “I was just incensed.” She added: “I understand people do drive crazy at certain times,” she said. “But I just think the amount is too high.” Lee is appealing the Rozelle infringements in court and has requested a review of two other fines from the same week on Oxford Street.
Dr Raphael Grzebieta, emeritus professor of road safety at the University of NSW, argued the opposite view, saying fines are too low. “They’re lucky the fines are so low,” he said. “Increase the fines … Maybe the message will get through to people that they should stop speeding.”
According to Transport NSW, speeding contributes to about 42 per cent of road fatalities. About 60 per cent of fines issued in the state during 2025-26 were for exceeding the speed limit by 10km/h or under; not stopping at a red light constituted another 20 per cent. Speed camera operations resulted in 779,405 fines worth $204,858,775, while red light infringements generated $119,645,734 from 203,351 fines.
A NSW Transport spokesperson said all revenue from camera-detected road infringements is reinvested into measures that help prevent deaths and serious injuries on NSW roads. The spokesperson also noted that government reviews showed road trauma rates were considerably lower at camera locations than before the cameras were installed. “We would rather have all motorists drive safely, follow the rules and stick to the speed limit than receive a dollar of anyone’s money because of a penalty.”
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The data shows the scale of speeding enforcement in Sydney, with nearly a million infringements issued in a year. Motorists face significant financial penalties and demerit points, with the highest-earning cameras concentrated in tunnel and interchange locations.
- The debate highlights a fundamental tension: some motorists view fines as excessive for minor or momentary speeding, while road safety experts argue stronger financial deterrence is essential to change driver behaviour and reduce the 42 per cent of road deaths linked to speeding.
- The NSW government's reinvestment of fine revenue into road safety measures means the ongoing revenue stream directly funds crash prevention programs, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of enforcement and spending.
Background
Speed and red light cameras are a standard road safety enforcement tool in Australia. The NSW government has operated them for decades, with revenue directed back into road safety initiatives. The 2025-26 figures come as debate continues between motorist groups and safety advocates over the appropriate level of fines, particularly for low-range speeding.
Key Perspectives
- Jeanitta Lee (motorist fined): Says the fines are too high, while acknowledging she was speeding. She is appealing the Rozelle infringements and has requested a review of others.
- Dr Raphael Grzebieta (road safety expert): Argues fines are not high enough to change driver behaviour and should be increased. He says drivers treat vehicles like "weapons" and need to respect them.
- Transport for NSW spokesperson: States all fine revenue is reinvested in road safety measures, and that road trauma rates at camera locations have fallen since installation.
What to Watch
- The outcome of Jeanitta Lee's court appeal against the Rozelle infringements, which could set a precedent for how courts treat low-range speeding penalties.
- Whether the NSW government adjusts fine levels in response to the ongoing public debate between motorist groups and safety advocates.
- The release of next financial year's figures to see if camera locations' infringement numbers change after this public scrutiny.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Cross City Tunnel speed camera brings in nearly $11 million and is the highest-revenue camera in Sydney.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The most expensive camera for Sydneysiders is won by Cross City Tunnel East Sydney’s westbound camera, which racked up $10,983,817 from 23,548 fines.”
- SupportedThe Cross City Tunnel camera tops Sydney camera revenue.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The most expensive camera for Sydneysiders is won by Cross City Tunnel East Sydney’s westbound camera”
- SupportedLee is appealing the Rozelle infringements and says the penalties are too high.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Lee recognises that she was going too fast when she was booked for speeding, but is hoping for leniency as she appeals the Rozelle infringements in court.”
- SupportedDr Raphael Grzebieta says the fines are too low.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Dr Raphael Grzebieta, emeritus professor of road safety at the University of NSW, says that enforcement fines are nowhere near enough.”
- SupportedThe NSW government recorded nearly $325 million in speed and red-light enforcement fine revenue in 2025–26.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “In the 2025-26 financial year, the NSW government recorded almost $325 million in revenue from speed and red light enforcement fines”
- SupportedThe Cross City Tunnel westbound camera issued 23,548 fines totalling $10,983,817.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Cross City Tunnel East Sydney’s westbound camera, which racked up $10,983,817 from 23,548 fines.”
- SupportedThe southbound Rozelle interchange camera recorded 27,643 infringements costing $9,969,681.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The most fines were issued by a southbound camera in the Rozelle interchange, capturing 27,643 infringements, costing $9,969,681 in fines.”
- SupportedLee received four speeding fines on inner-Sydney roads in one week in September, with two offences six minutes apart; the fines totalled $1,268 and nine demerit points.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Over one week of casual work in September, Jeanitta Lee was fined for four speeding offences on inner-Sydney roads. Two of the offences were just six minutes apart. Nine demerit points and $1268 in fines later”
- SupportedLee was caught driving 84km/h in a 60km/h zone at 3.22am and, three days earlier, 74km/h in the same zone.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “One infringement cost $608 and four demerit points, when she was pictured at 3.22am driving 84km/h in a 60km zone. Three days earlier, she was fined $354 and three demerit points for driving 74km/h in the same zone.”
- SupportedLee said, “I didn’t even make that much money that day” and “I was just incensed.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I didn’t even make that much money that day,” she said. “I was just incensed.””
- SupportedLee said, “I understand people do drive crazy at certain times,” and “But I just think the amount is too high.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I understand people do drive crazy at certain times,” she said. “But I just think the amount is too high.””
- SupportedGrzebieta said, “They’re lucky the fines are so low,” and urged higher fines, saying, “Maybe the message will get through to people that they should stop speeding.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““They’re lucky the fines are so low,” he said. “Increase the fines … Maybe the message will get through to people that they should stop speeding.””