LGA response to proposed AI-assisted technology ban

Following the Premier's announcement on Sunday 8 November, LGA President Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross publicly raised concerns about the lack of consultation with the sector and questioned why councils were being singled out when camera-based enforcement is already widely used by the State Government.

Through media engagement, including a press conference on Sunday, LGA has reinforced that trained officers already review AI-assisted evidence before parking fines are issued. The issue is not whether technology should operate without oversight, but whether councils should be prevented from using it when appropriate safeguards and review processes are already in place.

The Premier has announced plans to amend the Expiation of Offences Regulations 2026, with changes expected before Christmas. The proposed regulations would require council parking officers to physically attach a notice to a vehicle or hand it to the driver before a parking fine can be issued, subject to limited exemptions. This would effectively prevent councils from routinely issuing fines by post following detection by mobile camera systems.

Beyond the use of technology, the proposed changes also raise concerns about the safety of council officers. Requiring officers to physically place notices on vehicles may expose them to confrontation, particularly when dealing with aggressive motorists, enforcing restrictions on busy roads or working in isolated locations. Councils have a responsibility to protect their staff, and any changes must preserve the ability for officers to safely disengage from threatening situations without compromising enforcement.

LGA has highlighted that the use of technology provides councils with an important tool to manage their enforcement responsibilities and encourage compliance.

Mayor Holmes-Ross said the State Government needed to explain why different approaches were being taken to camera-based enforcement.

"South Australians already receive fines in the mail from speed, red-light and mobile phone detection cameras. If the Government has concerns about councils using camera technology, it needs to explain whether those same concerns apply to its own systems.

"Trained officers already review AI-assisted evidence before fines are issued. The answer isn't to abandon technology, but to make the best use of it, with appropriate human oversight and fair review processes.

"Councils are closest to their communities and understand the parking challenges facing residents and businesses. They should have the opportunity to use technology responsibly to address those challenges."

LGA has also made clear that the seriousness of parking and road safety offences is not being compared. Rather, the sector is seeking consistent principles around the use of technology, evidence, human oversight and procedural fairness across government.

It is poor form that councils were not consulted before the announcement, despite the proposed changes directly affecting their responsibilities and operational arrangements.

LGA is calling on the State Government to engage with the sector before progressing the regulatory amendments, properly consider their practical impacts and retain flexibility for councils to adopt technology that meets local needs.

The proposed changes raise several questions, including whether fixed parking cameras and other forms of technology-assisted enforcement would be affected.

LGA is seeking a copy of the proposed regulations to better understand their scope and implications and will be engaging with all sides of politics on this matter. We will continue engaging with councils as this progresses.