REVEALED: Eye watering value of CQ’s unpaid fines

Central Queenslanders owe tens of millions of dollars in unpaid fines. Here are the names of some of the offenders who have racked up five figure SPER debts.

There are a staggering number of Central Queenslanders who are yet to pay their price for breaking the law, collectively owing tens of millions of dollars to the State.

According to August figures, there is about $49,612,000 owed to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry from Central Queensland offenders.

There are 20,225 people yet to pay 144,415 debts across the Gladstone Region, Rockhampton Region, Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire, Banana Shire, Livingstone Shire and Central Highlands Region.

Unsurprisingly, driving offences account for the most money owed, with 27,816 offenders owing $9,320,000 collectively.

A separate category of ‘speeding’ is listed in the data, showing 24,344 people owing $7,121,000.

Jamie Lee Timms had more than $20,000 in fines.

After that are vehicle offences with 15,821 people owing $5,070,000, public order offences with 14,617 people owing $4,571,000, ‘other’ offences with 14,264 people owing $5,479,000, drug offences with 7288 people owing $2,332,000 and debt recovery with 351 people owing $3,912,000.

A number of dishonesty offenders who have deprived their victims of money and property are now doing disservice to the State, with 6286 stealing offenders owing $2,600,000 and 1552 fraudsters owing $1,790,000.

And there are even Central Queenslanders who have not been paying their tolls after travelling through Brisbane and Toowoomba, with 8101 people owing $1,562,000 in unpaid toll-related fines.

These figures don’t include the number of fines issued by local councils or any fines that were paid before being referred to SPER.

Baylei Jade Maree Salway had more than $7000 in SPER debt.

People who don’t pay their fines risk enforcement action from SPER, including but not limited to having their vehicles immobilised, their driver’s licence suspended, debt collections from wages and bank accounts, the government acquiring a share of their property or even having their property seized and sold off to recoup the fine.

“SPER debts don’t just go away and the consequences can be serious, so it is important that people deal with their debt,” a SPER spokesperson said.

“Where individuals or organisations don’t take steps to deal with their debt, SPER will take enforcement action including issuing fine collection notices to banks or employers to recover funds, registering interests over property, clamping and seizing vehicles, and suspending driver licenses.

James Michael Nugent’s SPER debt was almost $19,000.

“If you have a SPER debt, the best thing you can do is go to qld.gov.au/sper where you can view details of your debt, pay in full or set up a payment plan. If you need help, you can call SPER on 1300 365 635.”

During a drug hearing in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 28, it was revealed that Aurizon railway worker Kailu Zorangetano George had $4162 worth of unpaid fines.

Pineapple farm supervisor Jamie Lee Timms was revealed during his Yeppoon Magistrates Court hearing on October 14 to have had more than $20,000 in fines ordered against him, although he has already paid $3000 to SPER and he told the court he’s paying $60 per fortnight.

Back in Rockhampton Magistrates court on October 26, Baylei Jade Maree Salway was revealed to have more than $7000 in SPER debt and the last repayment she made was in 2018.

James Michael Nugent’s SPER debt was revealed to be almost $19,000 during a Yeppoon court hearing on July 1 and at that time he’d only paid down $2000 from his original debt and made no repayments since 2019.