Fines Victoria
Mr QUILTY (Northern Victoria) (17:09): (1899) My adjournment matter is for the Attorney-General. A woman recently contacted us regarding a now historical issue. In 2017 a speeding infringement was recorded by Fines Victoria but was never issued to her husband. I am told this is commonplace. A person may be detected breaking some law or another but they do not receive an initial fine, nor do they receive a reminder or a final notice. Four years passed to August 2021, when the man was pulled over for a random breath test. It was during this process that he learned of an outstanding fine for speeding. He requested a review, but it turns out that Victoria Police can only review before a final reminder notice. He did not apply, because he had never received any reminder notice, and now it is too late. It cannot be reviewed. Further to this administration error, the man asked for a review from Fines Victoria, which then claimed that he had agreed to a payment plan. He tells us he never did because he was never notified. He could not have. If Fines Victoria had not bungled this in 2017, this individual would not have been denied procedural justice.
This is not an isolated incident. We know that in some cases people are receiving final notices for offences they have not received initial notices for. With the compliance and fines frenzy from this government over the COVID-19 pandemic, I can only imagine how many Victorians are now sitting unawares in the crosshairs of Fines Victoria, with their notifications delayed, tactically or otherwise, and ultimately being denied procedural justice. Attorney-General, the action I seek is that you publicly acknowledge the predicament that Fines Victoria is placing Victorians in by denying them procedural justice due to poor administration, that you seek to address this issue and that you have this citizen’s fine repealed. I am happy to connect you with him should you choose to action this request.