November 16, 2018
South Burnett residents owe more than $9 million to the State Government in unpaid fines.
Figures released by the State Opposition show that residents in the Murgon / Cherbourg, Kingaroy and Nanango areas owe the greatest amount.
However, the South Burnett figures pale in comparison to debts owed in some metropolitan areas.
Defaulters living in Logan, south of Brisbane, have racked up the largest SPER debt in any Queensland postcode – a total of $27,631,000.
The next highest totals were recorded in:
- Ipswich (4305) – $26,124,000
- Woodridge (4114) – $25,129,000
- Toowoomba (4350) – $20,273,000
- Southport/Labrador (4215) – $18,844,000
- Caboolture (4510) – $18,332,000
The latest SPER report reveals the agency is owed more than $1.23 billion, up from $1.19 billion in May 2017.
Shadow Treasurer Tim Mander said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was failing to claw back cash that was urgently needed for schools, hospitals, infrastructure and to cut debt.
The largest debt owed to SPER by an individual or company is more than $4.5 million.
The combined total of the top five highest individual debts is over $7.3 million.
“Defaulters are thumbing their noses at Labor and the entire SPER system,” Mr Mander said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk is soft on crime and she’s soft on SPER defaulters, too.”
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South Burnett SPER Debts
| Postcode | Local Towns | Number of Debtors | Number of Debts | Outstanding Balance |
| 4314 | Benarkin, Blackbutt etc | 216 | 1632 | $685,000 |
| 4402 | Cooyar, Kooralgin etc | 40 | 231 | $87,000 |
| 4600 | Kilkivan, Cinnibar etc | 72 | 523 | $181,000 |
| 4601 | Goomeri, Tansey etc | 69 | 444 | $118,000 |
| 4605 | Murgon, Cherbourg etc | 967 | 9950 | $3,171,000 |
| 4606 | Wondai, Wheatlands etc | 180 | 770 | $274,000 |
| 4608 | Tingoora, Wooroolin etc | 56 | 402 | $129,000 |
| 4610 | Kingaroy, Kumbia etc | 1174 | 8303 | $2,588,000 |
| 4612 | Hivesville, Stonelands etc | 12 | 137 | $101,000 |
| 4613 | Boondooma, Proston | 76 | 459 | $149,000 |
| 4614 | Yarraman, Neumgna etc | 115 | 784 | $267,000 |
| 4615 | Nanango, Maidenwell etc | 627 | 5082 | $1,648,000 |
| TOTAL | $9,280,000 | |||
