Tuesday, 5 March 2024

South-Eastern Metropolitan Region

David LIMBRICK (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:59): (712) I have previously raised the matter of unpaid exorbitant fines for breach of lockdown orders here and received some helpful advice from the Attorney-General regarding the COVID-19 concession scheme, which significantly reduces the penalty payable for eligible COVID-19 fines. Constituents have raised another issue of fines impacting financial hardship – through my office, through reporting by the ABC and through the Peninsula Community Legal Centre – which is with toll road fines. The PCLC recently found through freedom-of-information requests that unpaid toll road fines in the south-east have amassed to $60 million, with the biggest concentration of impact on struggling families in Cranbourne, Dandenong and Frankston. My constituency question to the Attorney-General is: will the government consider expanding the concession scheme for COVID-19 fines to include toll road fines for those enduring financial hardship?