FINE DODGERS MUST PAY UP

GOLD Coasters are living in uncertain and tough times when every dollar will count, despite displays of opulence in the city.

Evidence of just how dire things could become here is everywhere down south – worrying reports of the second wave of coronavirus claiming lives and forcing lockdowns of entire local government areas in Melbourne, a concerning trend in Sydney and the border blockade response of Queensland.

Australia’s debt is set to soar to the gobsmacking height of $851.9 billion by June 30 next year as the nation is forced to spend drastically to mitigate the damage from the pandemic. JobKeeper, JobSeeker and a long list of other initiatives continue as our nation rallies to ward off economic and social disaster.

Even the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER), which is Queensland’s debt collector, last month put the brakes on issuing collection notices for new fines dished out since mid-March, when the pandemic began to bite. But the agency now reveals it is pursuing 85,000 Gold Coasters for $170 million in unpaid fines.

And as reported, road accidents and trauma, for example, have risen despite the months in which movement was restricted. We have to assume therefore that traffic infringements have similarly been high.

It seems that doing the right thing when it comes to paying fines – which are a debt to society and would help pay for better roads, schools, hospitals and council infrastructure – has taken a back seat, not just in recent times but for years.

This is an appalling indictment on the poor behaviour of a significant portion of our population. Despite the hardship cases that certainly exist, it reflects an attitude of entitlement in which the only priority is self, and everyone else can go jump.

People generally are not fans of such measures as vehicle impoundment or property seizure when penalties are ignored, but the magnitude of fine debt cannot be ignored either. Governments and society must show compassion, but when leniency is abused there has to be a reckoning. Once the virus threat has passed, the authorities must claw back that debt. Battling taxpayers should not have to keep propping up the fine dodgers.