Ezra Mam sentencing: Should we all cop same penalties?
The Palaszczuk government’s rush to raise revenue – which resulted in $1200 mobile phone fines – was draconian and insensitive. Surely there’s a better way, writes the editor.
Opinion
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Beyond the general shock at the light penalty imposed on Broncos star Ezra Mam for causing a car accident while driving unlicensed and with cocaine in his system, is a reminder of the rather obscene fines imposed on motorists for far less.
While there is absolutely never an excuse for handling and looking at your mobile phone while behind the wheel of a car on the road, the reality is the $1200 fine you are hit with for doing so is over the odds.
It was introduced in 2020 by the then Palaszczuk government – and was something pushed strongly for by then transport minister Mark Bailey, who wanted the proceeds to stay inside his share of the budget.
But it was a rather draconian call – and an odd one for Labor, which is supposed to believe in caring for those who are more on the Struggle Street end of society than those who hail from the top end of town.
For those Queenslanders with an above-average income, a $1200 fine is an annoyance. For many on lower incomes, it could be the difference between paying the rent or putting food on the table. Now, there are payment plans for those who can’t pay the amount upfront. But it was surprising that more sensitivity was not shown by Labor at the time these huge fines were introduced.
Again, there is no excuse for not paying attention when at the wheel. Those who do the wrong thing absolutely deserve to be penalised. And yes, the threat of a massive fine would have convinced a great many of us to think twice before reaching for our phone after it has just pinged with an alert as we drive.
But surely there is a better way. In Finland, for instance, penalties for traffic offences are calculated based on the driver’s income, and whether they have financial dependants.
This system last year led to one driver – the wealthy chairman of a big company – fined the equivalent of $195,000 when he was caught driving at 82km/h in a 50km/h zone.
Now that is obviously an extreme result. The usual penalty for the lowest range of offending – say, being caught doing less than 10km/h over the speed limit – ranges from $32 for those on low incomes to $300 for higher-paid people.
The Australia Institute think-tank recently examined what might happen if a local version of this system was implemented, prompted by its conclusion that a flat-rate fine as is currently the case in every state was “inherently regressive” because “they represent a small portion of income for wealthy people, but a large portion for low-income earners”.
The report concluded: “A fairer approach would be to fine people in a manner dependent on their income, ensuring equitable impacts across various income brackets.”
It calculated the Finland model here would see a Queensland driver in the highest income bracket hit with a fine of $355 if speeding up to 9km/h over the limit – up from the current flat-fee penalty of $177.
That compares with a driver in the lowest income bracket paying just $32. Both would lose the same demerit points from their licence, a system the institute backed – as it “ensures that there are consequences” for repeated infringements.
Now this report is about speeding fines only – not the far more risky offence, at least when compared with lower-level speeding, of being distracted by looking at your mobile phone while behind the wheel. And perhaps there remains a place for these extreme $1200 fines to ensure there is a genuine deterrent for those who might otherwise be tempted to sneak a look.
Regardless, it is a topic worth more consideration than it appears the former government gave in its eager rush to raise more revenue.
BACK NATURE TOURISM
The Gold Coast City Council’s move to push ahead with its planned nature tourism plans with the purchase of a massive plot of land bordering the Springbrook National Park is smart.
It is clearly no coincidence that Premier David Crisafulli has grouped together under a single minister the state departments of tourism and environment. It is a sign he is keen on progressing the nature-based tourism attractions that have for years been stifled by green tape under a decade of a Labor state administration.
The council has therefore made a smart call in getting ahead of that with this purchase, which Mayor Tom Tate says could be used as the base for the long-touted cableway there.
Whatever happens with the site, it is good to see the government embark on this journey – to try to rekindle the attitude that existed in our tourism industry in the 1980s, when so many iconic ventures that we all still visit today were first developed.
State Tourism and Environment Minister Andrew Powell is right to observe: “We know people come to Queensland for the spectacular landscape – whether it’s world-class surfing beaches or pristine rainforest and mountain ranges.”
The world will be looking toward Queensland over the next decade as we count down until the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These ideas must be progressed.
Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here
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