Published Wednesday, 26 November, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
Parliament passes new penalty regime
State Parliament has today passed legislation increasing the value of a penalty unit for offences from $75 to $100, bringing Queensland into line with other Australian states.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said the Penalties and Sentences and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2008 increased the value of individual penalty units for the first time since the introduction of the State Penalties Enforcement Act in 1999.
“The penalty unit in Queensland has remained low compared to other states and in addition has not kept up with the Consumer Price Index,” Mr Shine said.
“Effectively that reduces the level of punishment and deterrence for various offences.
“I’m satisfied now that this increase will ensure the deterrent nature of fines is maintained just as I’m sure there are some people in the community who are not going to agree with this increase.
“Nobody likes paying a fine.
“But copping a fine for speeding or running a red light or driving while talking on a mobile phone or failing to wear a seatbelt or smoking in a non-smoking area is the easiest thing to avoid.
“If you want to make sure you are one of the Queenslanders who will not have to pay this increase – if you don’t want to pay a fine - don’t break the law.
“This is not about raising revenue – this is about making sure that the penalties for breaking the law in Queensland are kept up to date.
“We need to ensure that the fine fits the crime – we need to be certain that penalties are a deterrent to breaking the law.”
Mr Shine said an estimated $70 million in revenue from the increased penalty unit would be directed toward such recently announced initiatives as major road safety campaigns and an increase in compensation levels for victims of crime under the new Victim’s Financial Assistance Scheme.
“Obviously an increase in the monetary amount of individual fines means an increase in funds and the Bligh Government is determined that those additional funds will be put to good use.
“First and foremost, those funds will be used to improve road safety because it’s clear that the great majority of fines handed out by police are a result of traffic offences.
“We need to get the message out there that we will stage a determined crack down on road safety because we need to reduce our road toll further.
“In addition, we will be able to offer victims of crime access to faster, increased financial assistance as well as coordinated support services by directing these additional funds into the Victim’s Financial Assistance Scheme, which is the result of a sweeping overhaul of the criminal compensation area.”
Mr Shine said the new Victims Financial Assistance Scheme, which will replace the current scheme under the Criminal Offence Victims Act, would now receive funding of $29 million a year – an increase of more than $7 million.
He said this would result in an increase in financial assistance for related victims of crime, such as the dependents of those killed as a result of criminal violence, from a maximum of $39,000 per family to $100,000.
The Scheme also introduces a new compensation category for secondary victims – such as the parents of children who have suffered sexual abuse – with a maximum payment up to $50,000.
Media Contact Chris Taylor 0419 710 874
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said the Penalties and Sentences and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2008 increased the value of individual penalty units for the first time since the introduction of the State Penalties Enforcement Act in 1999.
“The penalty unit in Queensland has remained low compared to other states and in addition has not kept up with the Consumer Price Index,” Mr Shine said.
“Effectively that reduces the level of punishment and deterrence for various offences.
“I’m satisfied now that this increase will ensure the deterrent nature of fines is maintained just as I’m sure there are some people in the community who are not going to agree with this increase.
“Nobody likes paying a fine.
“But copping a fine for speeding or running a red light or driving while talking on a mobile phone or failing to wear a seatbelt or smoking in a non-smoking area is the easiest thing to avoid.
“If you want to make sure you are one of the Queenslanders who will not have to pay this increase – if you don’t want to pay a fine - don’t break the law.
“This is not about raising revenue – this is about making sure that the penalties for breaking the law in Queensland are kept up to date.
“We need to ensure that the fine fits the crime – we need to be certain that penalties are a deterrent to breaking the law.”
Mr Shine said an estimated $70 million in revenue from the increased penalty unit would be directed toward such recently announced initiatives as major road safety campaigns and an increase in compensation levels for victims of crime under the new Victim’s Financial Assistance Scheme.
“Obviously an increase in the monetary amount of individual fines means an increase in funds and the Bligh Government is determined that those additional funds will be put to good use.
“First and foremost, those funds will be used to improve road safety because it’s clear that the great majority of fines handed out by police are a result of traffic offences.
“We need to get the message out there that we will stage a determined crack down on road safety because we need to reduce our road toll further.
“In addition, we will be able to offer victims of crime access to faster, increased financial assistance as well as coordinated support services by directing these additional funds into the Victim’s Financial Assistance Scheme, which is the result of a sweeping overhaul of the criminal compensation area.”
Mr Shine said the new Victims Financial Assistance Scheme, which will replace the current scheme under the Criminal Offence Victims Act, would now receive funding of $29 million a year – an increase of more than $7 million.
He said this would result in an increase in financial assistance for related victims of crime, such as the dependents of those killed as a result of criminal violence, from a maximum of $39,000 per family to $100,000.
The Scheme also introduces a new compensation category for secondary victims – such as the parents of children who have suffered sexual abuse – with a maximum payment up to $50,000.
Media Contact Chris Taylor 0419 710 874