May 26, 2022
The State Government will streamline its debt recovery procedures with new laws passed in Parliament on Tuesday.
Treasurer Cameron Dick said the changes supported the principle that people should pay what they owe.
The changes will move some fine penalty and administration functions from the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Queensland Police Service to the Queensland Revenue Office.
“Moving these functions into a single government agency … is expected to bring forward SPER debt repayments of more than $20 million in its first year,” the Treasurer said.
“This will ensure money owed to the State is recovered faster and more efficiently so it can be used to deliver the important infrastructure and critical emergency services Queenslanders rely on.”
Mr Dick said simplifying the payment process for people incurring fines will also give them the best possible chance to make their payments on time and avoid their debt escalating.
“To target debtors who refuse to pay significant debts, the new laws enable the cost of SPER’s enforcement activities to be recovered from the sale proceeds of seized property such as cars, boats and motorcycles.”
The Treasurer said the changes represented one of the most significant improvements to SPER’s operations in its two-decade history.
“In September 2020, I announced the Debt Recovery and Compliance Program to increase SPER’s resources and capability,” he said.
“We established a dedicated Debt Management Centre in Ipswich which has already collected more than $145 million to the end of March 2022.
“Focusing on people with long-term debts who refuse to make payments, SPER has increased enforcement activities such as seizing and selling vehicles and property, and garnishing wages and bank accounts, right across the State.”
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