State Penalties Enforcement Registry’s top debtor owes $4.5 million to Queensland Government

Five “defaulters” are responsible for more than $7 million in tolls and fines owed to the state government, with the worst offender racking up an eye-watering debt of $4.5 million.

The State Penalties Enforcement Registry’s top debtor has racked up six unpaid debts collectively worth an eye-watering $4.5 million.

QUEENSLAND’s top five toll and fine defaulters collectively owe the state’s debt collection agency more than $7 million.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the State Penalties Enforcement Registry’s top debtor has racked up six unpaid debts collectively worth an eye-watering $4.5 million.

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The opposition has seized on the figures, with LNP treasury spokesman Tim Mander describing them as shocking.

“This is money that could be used to aircondition state school classrooms, bust congestion on major roads like the M1 or Bruce Highway, or invest in better patient care in our hospitals,” he said.

According to the government figures, SPER’s second top debtor owes $1.25 million for six unpaid debts, followed by another debtor that has one outstanding debt reaching nearly $600,000.

Rounding out the top five was a debtor that had a bill of $500,207 as well as another who owed $466,068.

The government was unable to confirm if the top five debtors were individuals or companies due to privacy reasons.

But they claimed in response to a parliamentary question on notice from the LNP that debtors with high-value debts often lack financial capacity to pay or could have entered into bankruptcy or external administration processes.

They also pointed out that SPER was unable to undertake enforcement action against debtors until their court-ordered time to pay was complete.

The revelations come as the latest statistics released in September show the total value of outstanding debts to SPER sit at over $1.2 billion.

A Government spokeswoman said they had introduced laws that made it easier to recover debts as well as simple for people to pay them.

“It’s all about giving Queenslanders a fair go,” she said.

“SPER is always willing to reach acceptable payment arrangements based

on an individual’s or company’s circumstances.

“We take a tailored approach, depending on an individual’s entire debt history and circumstances, and a range of payment options are available.”

SPER’s finalisation of debt rate has recently improved to 96 per cent - up from 65 per cent three years ago.