This Sydney council issued 92 paper parking tickets last year. It still made $9.5 million

The state’s local government peak body has warned that the removal of ticketless parking fines could result in increased harm for parking rangers, who will be required to hand out on-the-spot notices under changes announced last week.

Local Government NSW president Darriea Turley said the return of physical notices would “put rangers right back in harm’s way”, and accused the NSW government – which issues ticketless fines for speeding and seatbelt offences – of enforcing a double standard.

NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos announced the removal of ticketless parking fines, after asking councils to reintroduce physical notices in March.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

More than 822,000 ticketless parking fines amounting to $158 million were issued across NSW in 2023-24, which was a 49 per cent increase from the previous financial year. Total parking fines rose by 9 per cent in the same time.

North Sydney Council reaped $9.5 million from almost 54,000 ticketless fines in the 2023-24 financial year, a 15 per cent annual increase, while only issuing 92 paper tickets in the same period.

North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker said ticketless fines had led to a “noticeable reduction” in incidents against rangers, and called for a “simple, consistent process” that matched the digital system used at a state level.

Council chief executive Therese Cole also opposed the removal of ticketless fines, saying a “focus on education may provide better results”.

“I strongly doubt the reintroduction of paper fines will result in more people following the rules, and less fines being issued,” Cole said. “I am hopeful the NSW government considers the impact to workers when determining a path forward.”

Ticketless fine revenue has been large in other highly populated areas, such as the City of Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown, since its 2020 inception.

Under the state government’s proposal, rangers would have to attach physical penalty notices to the vehicle breaching a parking rule.

Rangers would need to take several photographs proving the offence, which would be made available for drivers if they wish to contest the fine.

NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos requested in March that the 48 councils with a ticketless system also include a physical, on-the-spot notification to drivers when a fine was issued.

The 80 other councils without ticketless fines were informed that they would not be provided access to the system.

While 30 councils had already begun shifting away from the ticketless fines by last month, others threatened that only legislative reform would compel changes to their fines system.

Draft laws to remove ticketless fines are expected to be tabled in state parliament later this month. Local Government NSW has said it would support the measure, provided it wouldn’t undermine safety and increase public costs.

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