FINE DEBTS TOTAL $ 46M

One in eight owes Government

TOWNSVILLE residents owe more than $ 46 million in fines and fees, with one in eight in debt to the State Government.

The State Penalty Enforcement Registry ( SPER) collects unpaid fines from agencies including the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Police and the Queensland Courts.

A total of $ 46,676,000 is owed to SPER by people living in Townsville. More than 130,000 fines issued to 21,598 locals remain outstanding. The average debt per person is $ 2161.

The LNP’S Burdekin MP Dale Last said the SPER debt was out of control, with $ 1.24 billion owed across the state.

Tolling, speeding, driving and vehicle offences account for roughly half of the debt pool.

“Clearly the Government’s ability to chase these people and do something with their debt has failed miserably,” Mr Last said.

“There needs to be real consequences and better processes put in place to follow up with people who don’t pay their debt so this money can be recovered,” Mr Last said.

“Couldn’t we use $ 46 million in Townsville at the moment with the number of projects around?”

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said the former LNP government had a far worse record of collecting SPER debt.

He said the collection had improved to the point where the number of debts collected each year was almost equal to the number that were added to the pool. In the 2014- 15 financial year the debt pool rose more than 16 per cent. It increased by less than 4 per cent last financial year.

“That’s not saying there is not more work to be done in ensuring that people do pay fines, because the bulk of the infringements go back into road safety projects, which means that money can be placed into making Townsville streets safer,” Mr Harper said.

Townsville’s SPER debt is spread across the suburbs with the most amount of fines owed in the 4814 postcode, which includes Garbutt, Thuringowa, Vincent and Aitkenvale.

Inner suburbs in the 4810 postcode were next in line, but the fines were not discriminatory. Even the men and women at Lavarack find themselves in debt, with 43 people owing $ 55,000.

Townsville MP Scott Stewart encouraged people to pay their debt.

“People are putting off paying their fines … some people have thousands of dollars outstanding,” Mr Stewart said.

“Some people might have SPER debt they are not paying because they believe they are in the right and you can have simple parking tickets end up in hundreds of dollars of debt.”

Mr Stewart said SPER offered a range of payment options based on an individual’s entire debt history and circumstances.

A SPER spokeswoman said people should investigate as to what options are available to them.

“SPER takes enforcement action to collect unpaid debt, which can include suspending driver’s licences and issuing fine collection notices to banks or employers to recover funds,” the SPER spokeswoman said.

“By the time SPER takes enforcement action, the debtor has received the original infringement notice, SPER issued enforcement order, a reminder letter and a further warning of the enforcement action. Fees are applied when debts are registered, and also when enforcement activity is undertaken.”

Anyone with a SPER debt should get in touch with the registry on 1300 365 635.

COULDN’T WE USE $ 46 MILLION IN TOWNSVILLE AT THE MOMENT WITH THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS AROUND. DALE LAST