Mackay Isaac Whitsunday SPER debts revealed, top 10 offences

Mackay Isaac and Whitsunday residents owe tens of millions of dollars in unpaid fines. Find out what the region’s top costing offences were.

A staggering number of Mackay Whitsunday and Isaac residents are yet to pay the price for breaking the law with tens of millions of dollars owed to the state.

The October figures reveal there was $30,261,000 owed to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry from our region, making the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday law-breakers the 16th worst in Queensland for debt.

The Gold Coast region clocked the highest SPER debt with 73,948 people owing $145,775,000 averaging $1970 per person.

Brisbane West ranked the lowest with just $11,687,000 owed between 7276 people averaging just $1606 for each offender.

In the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region, a total of 14,914 people owed debt for a combined there was a total ​82,906 of offences, averaging $2,029 per offender.

In the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region, a total of 14,914 people owed debt for a combined 82,906 of offences, averaging about $2029 per offender — ranking higher on average than the Gold Coast.

Driving offences topped the list of unpaid fines with 16,053 offences totalling $6,047,000.

Unpaid speeding fines came in at a close second, with 16,726 offences coming in at $4,936,000.

Vehicle offences were third, clocking in with $3,397,000 owed for 9537 offences.

Mackay Isaac Whitsunday top 10 SPER offences

1. Driving - 16,053 people owing $6,047,000
2. Speeding - 16,726 people owing $4,936,000
3. Vehicle - 9,537 people owing $3,397,000
4. Other - 6,248 people owing $3,220,000
5. Public order offences - 6,564 people owing $2,539,000
6. Offender debt recovery - 6,564 owing $2,539,000
7. Drug - 4,285 owing $1,517,000
8. Stealing - 2818 people owing $1,230,000
9. Fraud, deception and extortion offences - 724 people owing $1,230,000
10. Tolling - 5,736 people owing $1,132,000

‘Other’ offences came next with 6248 offences totalling $3,220,000, followed by 6564 public nuisance offences owing $2,539,000, offender debt recovery with 6564 offences totalling $2,539,000, 4285 drug offences totalling $1,517,000 and 2818 offences for people convicted of stealing totalling $1,230,000.

Fraud, deception and extortion offences came in ninth with 724 offences totalling $1,230,000 and tolling ranked 10th with 5736 offences combining for a total of $1,132,000.

These figures do not include the number of fines issued by local councils or fines that were paid before being referred to SPER.

A Queensland Treasury spokesman said debts could start from unpaid infringement notices, such as a parking ticket, a court ordered penalty, an offender levy or an offender debt recovery notice.

The unpaid fines and penalties may be registered with the State Penalties Enforcement Registry for collection and enforcement with additional penalties stacking up if the amount is not paid by the due date.

To manage outstanding SPER debts head to qld.gov.au/sper or call SPER on 1300 365 635 for help.