The Queensland government’s debt collection agency is chasing downs tens of millions of dollars in unpaid fines and fees that are more than a decade old.
New figures, released through budget estimates, reveal that as of 30 June this year, the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) had $1.27 billion in debts sitting on its books.
This included $184.3 million in debts that were more than 10 years old – accounting for 14.5 per cent of all fines and penalties owed to SPER.
This was up from the same time in 2017, when the value of debts that were more than a decade old came in at less than $90 million and accounted for 7.5 per cent of the then-SPER debt.
While $362.9 million in debts currently owed to SPER are less than a year old, $310 million are aged between one and three years old, and $144 million are between three and five years old.
Another $269.3 million in outstanding fines and penalties – accounting for one in every $5 owed to SPER – are between five and 10 years old.
Asked about the ageing debts, a SPER spokesperson said that over the past four years, the agency had “arrested the growth” in debts that were greater than 10 years old.
“The level of aged debt has remained relatively constant at approximately $185 million,” they said.
“These results come despite increases in the volume and value of fines referred to SPER over the same period, as well as SPER suspending enforcement activities during COVID and in response to natural disasters.”
Hundreds of vehicles seized
The SPER spokesperson said measures introduced in 2020, including the establishment of debt management centres, had improved the quality of data to better locate debtors.
“These measures have enabled SPER to resolve debts earlier, preventing them from becoming aged in the first place,” they said.
“SPER debts don’t go away, so if you’ve got a SPER debt the best thing you can do is pay it now.”
In the 2023-24 financial year, SPER collected $436 million in outstanding debts, which the agency described as a “record” figure.
They also seized 745 vehicles from debtors as part of their enforcement activities.
SPER can take a range of actions to collect debts, including suspending drivers licences and issuing garnishing notices to banks and employers.
As of June this year, unpaid speeding fines were the number one penalty being pursued by SPER, with 725,104 speeding fine debts worth $268.6 million registered on their books.
