Fine dodgers are ripping off all taxpayers

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington has demanded Labor takes action to claw back the massive $1.2bn Queensland is owed in unpaid fines.

"What kind of government is Annastacia Palaszczuk running where the police and transport department don’t think it’s their job to chase up fines on behalf of the taxpayer?" Ms Frecklington said.

"The Auditor-General has revealed the State Government has dropped the ball on debt recovery with $1.2 billion owed to taxpayers.*

"This is a lazy attitude which has bloomed under a lazy Labor government.

"People who think they can get away with not paying the fines they owe shouldn’t just get a slap on the wrist.

"These fines were issued for doing the wrong thing and this money is owed to taxpayers.

"What’s Annastacia Palaszczuk’s plan for dealing with her billion-dollar problem?

"The Auditor-General has made a number of recommendations, but does this do-nothing government intend on taking that advice?"

Facts from the Queensland Audit Office report into ‘Finalising unpaid fines’

• $1.2 billion is owed in unpaid fines to SPER.
• The Auditor-General found that "The QPS, Traffic Camera Office and DTMR do not consider proactive follow up of fines to be their responsibility." (QAO Report 10: 2017-18)
• It is generally more than 109 days after QPS, the Traffic Camera Office and DTMR issue a fine before SPER commences enforcement action.
• Only 600 hundred of the 14 500 police officers can issue electronic infringements.
• Since 2011–12, the percentage of tolling infringements paid to DTMR has decreased from 17 per cent to five per cent in 2016–17.
• SPER is managing 776 000 debtors who, on average, have five unpaid fines totalling $1 540.
• There are 409, 553 debts which have been sitting with SPER for more than 10 years.

Queensland Audit Office Report 10: 2017-18 "Finalising unpaid fines"

https://www.qao.qld.gov.au/reports-parliament/finalising-unpaid-fines