Our SPER Debt Tops $8.8m

July 8, 2020

More than 3226 people – or roughly 10 per cent of the South Burnett’s population – collectively owed the State Government more than $8.8 million in fines at the end of May.

The figures come from the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER).

The South Burnett’s SPER debts at May 31 were:

• 4605 (Murgon): $2,969,000 (913 people with 9400 debts)

• 4610 (Kingaroy): $2,547,000 (1048 people with 7930 debts)

• 4615 (Nanango): $1,700,000 (547 people with 5285 debts)

• 4314 (Blackbutt): $597,000 (213 people with 1511 debts)

• 4614 (Yarraman): $344,000 (135 people with 1048 debts)

• 4606 (Wondai): $233,000 (142 people with 801 debts)

• 4613 (Proston): $177,000 (74 people with 526 debts)

• 4600 (Kilkivan): $169,000 (74 people with 559 debts)

• 4601 (Goomeri): $142,000 (80 people with 454 debts)

SPER is the state government agency tasked with collecting fines imposed by the courts, the State Government, councils and other agencies such as toll companies.

In total, Queenslanders owed SPER almost $1.3 billion at May 31.

More than $785 million worth of fines were imposed by the State Government, with $402 million coming from the courts.

Court fines included penalties for drug use, failure to appear for a court date, traffic offences, stealing, restitutions and related matters.

However – as bad as the South Burnett figures are – the local region is not particularly remarkable.

In 2019-20, the Top 10 Queensland postcodes with the highest SPER debts were:

• 4207 (Beenleigh, Logan Village, Yatala): $28,676, 000 (9993 people with 72,043 debts)

• 4114 (Kingston, Logan Central, Woodridge): $25,015,000 (7749 people with 88,829 debts)

• 4305 (Ipswich, Raceview): $24,818,000 (8258 people with 85,745 debts)

• 4350 (Toowoomba): $20,537,000 (10,233 people with 66,245 debts)

• 4215 (Labrador, Southport): $20,008,000 (9993 people with 72,043 debts)

• 4300 (Goodna, Springfield Lakes): $19,623,000 (7781 with 72,056 debts)

• 4870 (Cairns): $18, 965,000 (10,661 with 61,782 debts)

• 4510 (Caboolture, Beachmere, Bellmere): $18,915,000 (7577 people with 63,849 debts)

• 4209 (Coomera, Willow Vale): $17,730,000 (8586 people with 65,551 debts)

• 4132 (Crestmead, Marsden): $15,966,000 (5248 people with 62,423 debts)

  Police