Melbourne Council blames Fines Victoria for parking fine shortfall

Melbourne Council collected $24m in parking fines last year, but is demanding to know why it didn’t make more.

A City of Melbourne parking inspector in action. Picture: Jason Edwards

Melbourne Council has blamed a state government agency for failing to collect enough money from parking fines.

City of Melbourne wants the boss of Fines Victoria to front up and hear concerns about the agency’s collection of infringements after $8m in fines was written off by the council last year.

In 2021-22, the council had budgeted $39m for parking fines, but due to continuing pandemic impacts only $24m was collected.

An audit and risk committee report to be considered at a council meeting on Tuesday night said that significant parking fine debts have been written off.

“The (chief financial officer) noted that these write-offs occur largely due to the performance of Fines Victoria, who is responsible for management and collection of parking infringements in Victoria,” it said.

“The committee asked that the CEO of Fines Victoria be invited to attend a committee meeting to discuss concerns about collection performance and how it may be improved.”

The report also noted that there had been an increase in cyber threat activity involving council, including three significant security incidents identified by the chief information officer.

“These events did not have any significant impact on council,” it said.

“An integrated cybersecurity program of work has been developed to enhance council’s resilience, and to mature capability.”

The committee also revealed that waste and environment contractor Citywide – a wholly-owned subsidiary of the council – is undergoing a review of its future, with a report due in November.

It said that Citywide’s chief executive Chris Campbell had indicated the company’s board was satisfied with operational performance “in a very challenging period”.

“The waste resourcing businesses had been particularly challenging which resulted in the board being unable to capitalise on opportunities,” said the committee’s report.

Citywide’s board is led by former state premier John Brumby, who is among 13 people in key management roles.

The company’s 2020-21 annual report indicated that Mr Campbell earned between $500,000-$599,999, while three people got between $300,000-$349,999.