The Queensland Government wants civilians to operate speed camera vans so more police can get back on the beat.

It is one option being proposed by the Government today during enterprise negotiations with the Queensland Police Union (QPU).

Police Minister Neil Roberts says Queensland is the only state that exclusively uses police officers to operate the cameras.

Mr Roberts says about 100,000 hours of police time will be freed up if civilians operate the state's speed cameras.

He says it is an option that will be put to the QPU today to try and resolve a long-running wages dispute.

Mr Roberts says the change would allow a better wages outcome for police than the current 7.5 per cent on offer from the Government over three years.

"Currently all the mobile speed camera operations are done on overtime," he said.

"They're generally not done during normal office hours, so it's on overtime rates so being able to employ civilians would be a significant cost saving."

But QPU spokesman Ian Leavers has rejected the idea.

"Once you give it to a private business, it's nothing more than about making a profit - it is unacceptable," he said.

"In the scheme of things, it shouldn't make a big difference and it won't put police back out on the beat - that will not happen.

"It's completely funded from a separate function out of the police budget and police do that function on overtime, so the police in response is not affected.

"If they take away the speed cameras from the police, it will not equate to more police on the beat."

Treasurer Andrew Fraser disagrees and says this afternoon's meeting is about more pay in exchange for police being more flexible with issues, including shift work.

"What we're looking for is a genuine bargain - we'll look at our pay offer," he said.

However Opposition treasury spokesman Tim Nicholls also says it is a furphy to suggest there will be more police on the beat if they do not staff speed camera vans.

"Quite evidently it is designed to - and will allow for - revenue-raising, not taking police off their existing duties because it's overtime time anyway," he said.