Page 3340 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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board, not just in relation to fines, traffic fines, and charges and payments, to have some regard to the cost and the benefit. There is a range of unpaid fines, particularly in relation to parking and traffic, where the offence was committed by somebody who lives elsewhere where the cost of pursuing the debt or the unpaid fine is of an order far greater than the unpaid fine.
Our effort in relation to the recovery of fines is, I think, higher than almost anywhere else in Australia. We have an exemplary record. We collect more than 90 per cent. Sometimes there is a delay, but the systems that we have in place in the ACT, the reforms that have been pursued here in relation the collection of traffic fines and parking fines are strong—amongst the strongest—and are quite consistent with the arrangements that are in place in other places around Australia.
We have a very good and a very high level of collection, accepting that, I think, six to seven per cent of fines at the end of the day, after time or over time, whilst never formally written off, are accepted as fines that are almost certainly never going to be collected. We can pursue them vigorously. We can institute action in places like Darwin, Hobart and Perth, but at significant cost—at a cost which we believe is far greater than the outstanding fee.
These are difficult decisions but they are questions of judgement and that is the basis on which we pursue those issues. So I have no issue with the way in which we pursue fines and unpaid traffic and vehicle fines.
In relation to issues around the late issuance of registration notices, once again it is a matter of enormous regret. We hope always for seamless, uninterrupted systems that allow people time and notice. It has to be said, however, Ms Hunter, in relation to the late distribution of registration notices that the notices are being distributed before the registration period expires. It is just that the period of notice is far less than desirable and far less than our systems optimally provide.
It is a matter of regret that the software failed. It was recharged and it failed again. The failure was not noticed for, I think, a period of a couple of weeks. It has led to very late issuance of a number of registrations. But my understanding is that all those notices have been issued before the registration expires.
These are matters of regret. We invest heavily in ICT. We have well-supported systems. You could always invest more. It is a very hungry area in terms of government resourcing of IT and IT systems. But we invest significantly. We invest, we believe, at appropriate rates having regard to our other priorities. From time to time there are issues and glitches. In this technological age, of course, when there is a glitch, the consequences can be quite significant.
That is the history of those three issues. Of course, I think it is beyond dispute that we can always do better and we try always to do better.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Hunter, a supplementary question?
MS HUNTER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. As interstate motorists owe more than $10 million in unpaid traffic infringements, what have you done to progress this issue
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