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'Few surprises' in State Budget

Road Safety Minister Liza Harvey after making a major announcement about flashing 40kmh school zone signs. Picture: Michael Wilson/The West Australian

Pre-Budget announcements reaffirming previous commitments are an indication the Government's May 14 financial plan will contain few surprises, political commentator Martin Drum says.

Media called to a "major announcement" by Police Minister Liza Harvey yesterday were told the 2015-16 State Budget would contain $20 million for flashing 40km/h signs in school zones as part of a $36 million 2013 election promise.

"What this does is rounds off that election commitment," Mrs Harvey said.

The announcement came a week after the Government said the Budget would contain $7 million for CCTV cameras under another 2013 promise.

Dr Drum, senior politics lecturer at Notre Dame University, said the reannouncements were an indication of the fiscal straitjacket which was framing the Budget. "I think it will be a Budget where existing commitments are reaffirmed rather than new ones being committed," he said.

A total of 309 schools have the flashing signs, with another 766 to be installed by March 2017, funded from the road trauma trust account.