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Speed ticket seminar cancelled
Matthew Burgess
14Aug07
A FREE Bayside Business Network seminar encouraging people to avoid paying speeding fines has been cancelled because of ethical concerns.
Bayside Council last week cancelled the September 3 seminar,
promoted as teaching people ``how and why you should never pay a
speeding fine again'', after an advertisement featured its logo.
But Aussie Speeding Fines, the group behind the 90-minute seminar, says
it will host the event without the network's support and has slammed
the council for intervening.
The seminar was scheduled as part of the 2007 Bayside Business Network seminar series.
But Mayor John Knight, who represents the council on the Bayside
Business Board, said the council was ``very concerned'' about the
content's ethics.
``We have spoken to Bayside Business Network. The seminar has been
cancelled,'' he said. The council provides administrative help to the
network, and has budgeted $75,000 this financial year to support its
economic development activities.
Aussie Speeding Fines owner Mike Palmer said traffic fines were
``unlawful'' and more than 100 people had booked for the seminar, which
was confirmed about two months ago.
``I am extremely disappointed Bayside Council has ordered it to be pulled,'' Mr Palmer said.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Natalie Webster said speed cameras were an important part of the overall road safety strategy.
Road Trauma Support Team Victoria chief executive Julie Parke said the
seminar was ``just crazy'' and would have sent the wrong message.
Bayside Ratepayers' Association president George Reynolds said the
council should be applauded for cancelling the ``anti-social'' event.
Leader Community Newspapers is also a sponsor of the network, but was not aware of the content of the seminars.
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