South Burnett SPER crackdown: Enforcement officers to visit Kingaroy, Nanango

South Burnett residents owe millions of dollars in unpaid fines to SPER, with debt-dodgers being warned they can expect a knock on their door as enforcement officers chase down the worst offenders.

South Burnett residents who have racked up whopping SPER debts are being warned they can expect a knock on their door as enforcement officers crack down on the region’s worst debt-dodgers.

About 20,000 people across the Wide Bay and Burnett are holding onto $55 million in unpaid fines to the State Penalty Enforcement Registry, making up a large chunk of the more than $1 billion owed to the government body across the state.

SPER Enforcement Director Kim Easton said their officers would be focusing on Kingaroy, Nanango and surrounding areas to prompt debtors to “pay the money they owe the people of Queensland”.

“Debtors who refuse to pay their SPER debts can have money taken from their wages or bank accounts or have their cars clamped, seized and towed to encourage them to meet their obligations,” Mr Easton said.

“This will involve SPER officers visiting debtors’ homes or workplaces.”

Similar operations across Townsville, Cairns, Gladstone, and Rockhampton saw more than 90 vehicles seized and ultimately recovered about $10 million, with many people paying up on the spot.

More than 30 of the seized vehicles were sold to pay down their owners’ debts.

Mr Easton said anyone in the South Burnett region with outstanding debt was urged to touch base with SPER before officers were pressed to take action.

“SPER debts are money owed to Queenslanders and debtors who continually ignore warnings and refuse to pay will be subject to tough consequences,” he said.

“SPER debts don’t go away – they will catch up with you”

He said anyone who was struggling to pay their debt could contact SPER to discuss payment options.

Unpaid fines and penalty debts are referred to SPER by the courts, State Government through police, TMR, Queensland Rail, Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation and other departments, as well as other local government authorities such as local councils, universities, hospitals and port authorities.