By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
CASEY families are racking up huge bills on unpaid and accumulated transport fines but an overhaul of the entire State Government infringement system is set to bring much-needed clarity.
In February the executive officer at Casey North Information and Support Service, Susan Magee, wrote to Attorney-General Martin Pakula advocating for a six-month, state-wide amnesty on administration fees attached to unpaid traffic fines.
Ms Magee revealed how crippling the accumulated debt and fees were becoming for the thousands of Casey residents struggling to pay back fines.
“We have Casey residents come in carrying shopping bags full of unopened fines and it’s affecting all aspects of their lives,” Ms Magee told Star News.
In the letter, Ms Magee wrote: “Almost 30,000 Casey residents presently owe $102 million” in road fines, which amounts to “more than 10 per cent of the Casey population”.
Mr Pakula met with Ms Magee in person last month to advise of the current system reform and his reluctance to consider an amnesty until the system was fully updated.
“It was a positive meeting,” Ms Magee said.
“The reforms will hopefully make it easier for the public to navigate – if they had done nothing to improve the frustrating system I would have pushed for an amnesty.”
The State Government’s improved infringement system is set to become active by 2017 and will include the consolidation of fines. This will allow all infringements to be dealt with in one payment arrangement.
Under the reformed system those in acute financial hardship will be able to pay for their fines through the Work and Development Permit scheme.
This means vulnerable people can pay back their debt through non-finance options, such as community work, treatment, life skills and vocational courses.
Among other amendments to the complicated system, Ms Magee said the format of correspondence would be reviewed.
“It will take a more reader-friendly format that should be easier to understand,” she said.
In response to the scope of the growing debt in the south-east, the State Government’s Department of Justice and Regulation dished out $100,000 over two years, to the Peninsula Community Legal Centre (PCLC).
The cash injection was to fund fine clinics to inform the public of their legal rights.
PCLC CEO, Jackie Galloway said the clinics started in January and had been “well utilised” so far.
“The clinics will run over two years and are in response to the emerging legal need in the community,” she said.
Training sessions for local community support workers have also started.
Ms Galloway said one of the sessions has been booked out and another is planned.
To book in to a fines clinic visit: www.pclc.org.au
