Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) -- I wish to raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Local Government. It was very early in the days of 2010 when I attended a meeting with representatives of the newly formed Save Our Footscray committee in Footscray. This meeting represented over 90 per cent of all the traders in Footscray, including the Footscray Independent Traders, representing over 50 traders; Footscray Traders, with over 50 traders; Footscray Asian Business Association, representing over 60 per cent of traders in Footscray; Footscray Market, representing over 80 traders; and Little Saigon Market, with over 20 traders as well. These traders are deeply concerned that, based on a survey of 48 traders, business trade in Footscray is down by 25 per cent to 50 per cent, with an average of 33 per cent.

The main reason for the decline is fines from traffic surveillance cameras in Footscray. Every car that stops for more than 90 seconds, even to let other cars move into the traffic flow or to move into a parking space, has been fined $70 plus. Since the installation of the cameras in April last year over 26 000 fines have been issued.

A letter from Mr Binh Le, president of the Footscray Asian Business Association, and Mr Bon Nguyen of the Vietnamese Community in Australia, Victoria chapter, makes their views very clear. They believe that the cameras are a disgrace. The letter says council claims to have a number of reasons to justify the use of these cameras, but there is significant dissatisfaction -- to say the very least -- about these cameras in the community. It states:

For many years now, the district has lacked reasonable amenities.

Streets are badly congested because of insufficient car parks and drop-off areas while Footscray has become increasingly prosperous due to features of multiculture and low-price shopping attraction.

The community has borne the neglect of successive Labor governments and councillors but is unwilling to let this continue.

I beg the Minister for Local Government to convene and chair a meeting between the Maribyrnong City Council and the Save Our Footscray committee, because there is a strong feeling of revolt in the air in Footscray. There is real anger amongst the traders in the Footscray area, and it is my very great concern that if the minister does not take some sort of action to convene such a meeting, we may well see a western suburbs version of something akin to a modern-day Eureka Stockade.