❓ Hon. Samantha Rowe questions the Attorney General regarding potential errors in the Fines Enforcement Registry's computer system upgrade, leading to incorrect notifications of outstanding fines. The Attorney General clarifies FER's role and processes for resolving disputes.
AnsweredQoN 442Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FINES ENFORCEMENT REGISTRY — COMPUTER
UPGRADE
442. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the Attorney General:
I refer to the recent upgrades to
the computer system used within the Fines Enforcement Registry.
(1) Is the
Attorney General aware that a number of people have been contacted by the Fines
Enforcement Registry and advised that they have outstanding fines, in one case
from 15 years ago, and that they need to pay the fine by a certain date or
licence suspension will occur, despite the fact that they had paid the fines
when they were issued?
(2) If yes to
(1), can the Attorney General advise the house —
(a) how many
people have been subjected to this administration error;
(b) whether
anyone has suffered licence suspension due to this error; and
(c) whether
anyone has paid the fine for a second time after receiving this letter due to
an inability to produce a receipt for the original payment?
UPGRADE
442. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the Attorney General:
I refer to the recent upgrades to
the computer system used within the Fines Enforcement Registry.
(1) Is the
Attorney General aware that a number of people have been contacted by the Fines
Enforcement Registry and advised that they have outstanding fines, in one case
from 15 years ago, and that they need to pay the fine by a certain date or
licence suspension will occur, despite the fact that they had paid the fines
when they were issued?
(2) If yes to
(1), can the Attorney General advise the house —
(a) how many
people have been subjected to this administration error;
(b) whether
anyone has suffered licence suspension due to this error; and
(c) whether
anyone has paid the fine for a second time after receiving this letter due to
an inability to produce a receipt for the original payment?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question and answer on behalf of the Attorney General.
(1) Yes; as the
Fines Enforcement Registry is the agency responsible for the enforcement of
unpaid fines and infringement notices and must utilise the information provided
by the prosecuting authority at the time of registration to serve approved
notices.
(2) (a) There has
been no administrative error on the part of FER. FER is reliant on the
prosecuting authority providing accurate information.
(b) Prior to a
licence suspension occurring, FER issues a notice of intention to enforce. An
offender is given 28 days to contact FER to make the necessary inquiries. If an
inquiry relates to a registered fine or infringement that may have been
previously paid in part or full prior to being registered at FER, it is
referred back to the court location or prosecuting authority that registered
the fine or infringement so that the matter can be resolved prior to licence
suspension occurring.
(c) FER would not
encourage payment when there is a dispute relating to a registered court fine
or infringement. If an offender insisted on making payment, appropriate notes would
be recorded in the FER database.
some notice of this question and answer on behalf of the Attorney General.
(1) Yes; as the
Fines Enforcement Registry is the agency responsible for the enforcement of
unpaid fines and infringement notices and must utilise the information provided
by the prosecuting authority at the time of registration to serve approved
notices.
(2) (a) There has
been no administrative error on the part of FER. FER is reliant on the
prosecuting authority providing accurate information.
(b) Prior to a
licence suspension occurring, FER issues a notice of intention to enforce. An
offender is given 28 days to contact FER to make the necessary inquiries. If an
inquiry relates to a registered fine or infringement that may have been
previously paid in part or full prior to being registered at FER, it is
referred back to the court location or prosecuting authority that registered
the fine or infringement so that the matter can be resolved prior to licence
suspension occurring.
(c) FER would not
encourage payment when there is a dispute relating to a registered court fine
or infringement. If an offender insisted on making payment, appropriate notes would
be recorded in the FER database.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.