Hardship scheme reduces 231 fines as Revenue NSW rakes in $872m

A ‘fairer fines’ scheme introduced by the Coalition government as a way to help people in financial distress has been deemed a dismal failure.

A fine discount scheme designed to help people in hardship pay minor penalty notices such as jaywalking or riding a bike where it is not allowed has resulted in just 0.01 per cent of fines being reduced in value.

So paltry is the number of fines that have been partially waived that the Minns government had declared it is reviewing the scheme with a view to expanding the criteria to enable more people benefit.

Introduced by the former Coalition government, the “fairer fines” scheme was hailed a means to help people in severe financial distress by halving the value of their fines.

However, the latest Revenue NSW figures show that of the 3.6 million penalty notices issued last financial year, just 231 were halved in value.

The revenue the government made from fines that year was $872 million.

Of the millions that poured in, just over $42,000 was waived for those in hardship.

In the year before, just 232 fines were halved in value out of the almost 3.3 million issued.

The total value of those fines was $863 million, of which just over $39,000 was waived.

At the time of the fines amendment being introduced, the then attorney-general – now State opposition leader – Mark Speakman, claimed the scheme would “strike the right balance, ensuring we hold people to account for breaking the rules and endangering our roads, but without placing undue burdens on disadvantaged members of our community.”

A NSW police officer issues a fine for jaywalking. Picture: John Grainger

Given the low numbers of fines being halved, the Minns government has questioned whether the scheme had actually worked in helping the most vulnerable.

While the scheme also involves diverting people to Work & Development Orders and payment plans, Finance Minister Courtney Houssos said a fine reduction often had the greatest impact for people struggling with the cost-of-living.

Ms Houssos said she was working with issuing authorities – including councils and Transport for NSW and NSW Police – and community groups to make sure more people in need were not pushed into further hardship.

The government was also actively looking at expanding the criteria the program to ensure it reached those who needed it most.

Ms Houssos said the existing eligibility conditions for schemes such as “fairer fines” were so restrictive that they were “virtually inaccessible”.

To be considered for a fine reduction, Revenue NSW requires a person not to have yet paid their fine, to have been receiving a government assistance payment at the time of the offence, is unable to pay the fine in full or set up a payment plan to pay in instalments, has not received four or more similar fines within 12 months of the offence date, cannot participate in a Work and Development Order (WDO) and are not applying about a serious offence or have had a serious offence in the last 12 months.

“We understand so many families and households are under increasing cost-of-living pressures,” Ms Houssos said.

“The NSW Government is committed to a ensuring our fines system operates fairly and provides options for relief. This will further reduce the burden on those who are experiencing hardship.”

Fines eligible for a reduction under the existing criteria include those issued for minor public transport offences such as not producing proof of concession.

Also included are littering, some parking offences such as not displaying a ticket and animal offences like not registering your dog.

Fines that are not eligible for a reduction speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and red light offences and alcohol and drug related driving offences.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]