August 1, 2012
Defendants found guilty of offences in the Supreme, District and Magistrates courts will soon have to pay an “offender levy”, regardless of whether a conviction is recorded.
Fines will also be increased following a decision to raise the “penalty unit” – the basis for calculating many fines – from $100 to $110.
The State Government passed the necessary amendments in Parliament today. They will apply upon assent from the Governor.
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said the offender levy would be $100 for people found guilty in a Magistrates Court, and $300 for people found guilty in the District or Supreme courts.
“This levy will apply to all adult offenders, there will be no exceptions,” Mr Bleijie said.
The levy would be automatically imposed at the conclusion of sentencing but because it was an administrative levy it would not form part of the sentence.
“It will be payable per sentencing event regardless of the number of convictions or whether or not a conviction is recorded,” he said.
Mr Bleijie said the revenue generated from the levy would be directed towards “frontline services” as well as “strengthening support services for victims of serious crime”.
“It has been designed to ensure that offenders contribute to Queensland’s justice system and to address the harm that their crimes cause,” he said.
“To avoid paying the levy, the answer is simple: don’t do the crime.”
