Published Wednesday, 19 November, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Minister seeks council feedback about value of penalty units
The Queensland Government is seeking feedback from councils about whether they will adopt the increase in the value of penalty units, which was announced last week.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt has written to all 73 councils in Queensland to inform them of the increase in the value of penalty units to $100, the first rise in almost 10 years.
He said he was seeking each council’s decision on whether they intended to adopt the increase from 1 March next year or seek an exemption.
“The reforms to the value of penalty units will allow councils to recover revenue lost to the effects of inflation and strengthen the deterrent aspect of fines for those who may consider committing an offence,” Mr Pitt said.
“The real value of penalties under local government legislation in Queensland has been significantly eroded since the penalty unit value was set at $75 in 1999.
“Most other Australian jurisdictions have maintained the real value of penalty units, which are now generally in the order of $110.
“With enforcement costs for local governments having also increased since 1999, it is reasonable that councils are entitled to recover the relative losses that have resulted from inflation, so that enforcement may be more effectively administered.”
Mr Pitt said councils could also amend penalty provisions so as to impose lesser amounts for infringement notices but this needed to be considered carefully.
“Feedback from councils and the Local Government Association of Queensland indicates support for an increase in order to provide a greater deterrent for many offences,” he said.
“That’s why I have written to all councils seeking their advice on whether or not they wish to adopt the new penalty point value. This must surely be a good outcome for communities.
“Not applying the increase to local government on-the-spot infringement notices could have negative effects and council officers may be left in the position of administering a ‘two-tiered’ system,” he said.
“Local government penalty units would be of one value, while those of infringement notices issued by councils where they have delegated authority under State legislation would be of a different value.
“Such an outcome would leave council officers in an operationally and administratively awkward predicament.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt has written to all 73 councils in Queensland to inform them of the increase in the value of penalty units to $100, the first rise in almost 10 years.
He said he was seeking each council’s decision on whether they intended to adopt the increase from 1 March next year or seek an exemption.
“The reforms to the value of penalty units will allow councils to recover revenue lost to the effects of inflation and strengthen the deterrent aspect of fines for those who may consider committing an offence,” Mr Pitt said.
“The real value of penalties under local government legislation in Queensland has been significantly eroded since the penalty unit value was set at $75 in 1999.
“Most other Australian jurisdictions have maintained the real value of penalty units, which are now generally in the order of $110.
“With enforcement costs for local governments having also increased since 1999, it is reasonable that councils are entitled to recover the relative losses that have resulted from inflation, so that enforcement may be more effectively administered.”
Mr Pitt said councils could also amend penalty provisions so as to impose lesser amounts for infringement notices but this needed to be considered carefully.
“Feedback from councils and the Local Government Association of Queensland indicates support for an increase in order to provide a greater deterrent for many offences,” he said.
“That’s why I have written to all councils seeking their advice on whether or not they wish to adopt the new penalty point value. This must surely be a good outcome for communities.
“Not applying the increase to local government on-the-spot infringement notices could have negative effects and council officers may be left in the position of administering a ‘two-tiered’ system,” he said.
“Local government penalty units would be of one value, while those of infringement notices issued by councils where they have delegated authority under State legislation would be of a different value.
“Such an outcome would leave council officers in an operationally and administratively awkward predicament.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819