The CLP Government has introduced legislative amendments in Parliament to address issues relating to enforcement orders for unpaid fines and penalties.
Minister for Corporate and Digital Development Joshua Burgoyne said issues with the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001 were identified by the former Labor government in June this year with the Fines Recovery Unit immediately ceasing to enforce unpaid fines and penalties and suspending all enforcement actions.
“We are taking decisive action and cleaning up this long-term issue created by administrative oversights that potentially goes back as far as 2002,” said Mr Burgoyne.
“All fines and penalties are still valid and have always been payable; the amendment relates to enforcement orders and enforcement sanctions implemented when fines and penalties were not paid by the due date.”
As at 30 June 2024, there were 201,541 outstanding fines and infringements worth a total of $119.6 million. Of this, around $102.3 million is money owed to the Territory Government.
In the NT annually, between 50,000 and 60,000 fines and infringements are issued.
“These amendments send a clear message that if you do the wrong thing, you will pay the fine,” said Mr Burgoyne.
When the Bill is passed, historical enforcement actions will be retrospectively validated.
Further legislation is anticipated later this year which will ensure the processes used by the Fines Recovery Unit will be consistent with the Act, and that enforcement will recommence.
“The Government is backing the actions of the Fines Recovery Unit, which will continue to operate and be strongly supported,” said Mr Burgoyne.
Recent Machinery of Government changes saw the Fines Recovery Unit and the management of the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act 2001 move from the Attorney-General’s Department to the Department of Corporate and Digital Development.
