Politics
UNDERREPORTED
Queensland writes off nearly $140 million in unpaid fines as debt mounts
Queensland's debt collector SPER erased almost $140 million in outstanding fines, wiping out over 460,000 debts while 2.7 million remain unpaid.
During the last fiscal year, SPER, the Queensland government’s debt-recovery agency, wrote off nearly $140 million covering more than 460,000 unpaid fines. At the close of June, 2.7 million fines were still outstanding. The write-off coincides with proposed legislation that would double penalties for drink- and drug-driving and impose harsher sanctions for other serious offences.
Why it matters
The write-off highlights a large revenue shortfall and precedes tougher penalty laws that could reshape Queensland's fine enforcement.
In this story
QueenslandSPERunpaid fineswrite-off$140 million460,000 debts2.7 million debtsdrink driving penaltiesdrug driving penaltiesserious offences