Labor targets motorists with unfair infringements system

Victorian motorists are being targeted by Labor through an unfair infringement notice system plagued by inconsistent decision-making and run by agencies which can escape punishment because of a toothless oversight system.

Shadow Attorney-General Robert Clark said today the Withdrawal of Infringement Notices report tabled in Parliament by the Auditor-General revealed Labor’s Infringements Act 2006 had failed in its aim of making the infringement notices system fairer for Victorians.

“With 4.2 million infringement notices issued every year, and more than 209,450 withdrawn last year, this is a very serious issue for Victorians – especially motorists who account for 93 per cent of infringement notices,” Mr Clark said.

“Three years after Labor claimed its laws would make the system fairer, the Auditor-General has found that ‘there are still many improvements needed to assure the public and Parliament that the withdrawal of notices is contributing to a fairer system’.

“The Auditor-General found inconsistent decision-making by government agencies means Victorians are being treated differently when they apply to have an infringement notice withdrawn.

“The Auditor-General states ‘Consistency is a hallmark of a fairer system, and its absence casts doubt over the fairness of the whole system’.

“Agencies are criticised for poor records, inadequate procedures, failure to verify claims and inaccurate classification of data.

“And it’s astounding that the very unit set up by the Department of Justice to oversee the infringements system has no power to investigate or discipline agencies.

“This report is a shameful litany of incompetence by John Brumby’s government, which is happy to gouge Victorian motorists with fines but won’t give Victorians a fair system to allow for the withdrawal of infringement notices,” Mr Clark said.