❓ A parliamentary question addresses claims that the WA government sells fine debts to private companies, which the Attorney General denies, clarifying the role of Baycorp in fine enforcement. The matter raised by Ms Kilroy was resolved.
AnsweredQoN 1861Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a tweet by Ms Debbie Kilroy OAM, CEO of Sisters Inside on 11 January 2019, claiming that her organisation was unable to repay a fine debt of a young aboriginal mother due to the State Government having sold that debt to a private debt collection corporation, and I ask: (a) does the Western Australian Government sell fine debts to private organisations; (b) if yes to (a), which organisations does the Government sell fine debts to; (c) why would someone not be able to repay a fine debt if it was sold to a private organisation; and (d) have you contacted Ms Kilroy to discuss and resolve this matter?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 April 2019
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Attorney General
Response time
15 days
(a) No, the Western Australian Government does not sell fine debts to the private sector.
The Department of Justice has a contract with Baycorp (WA) Pty Ltd for the provision of fine enforcement services to assist the Sheriff of Western Australia in collecting unpaid fines for which enforcement warrants have been issued. The debts remain with the State at all times and any fine payments collected by the company are forwarded to the Department in their entirety. The company is paid on a fee for service basis.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) There is no reason why someone wouldn’t be able to pay in full a fine debt that is being managed by Baycorp. However, if a fine debtor wishes to enter into a time-to-pay arrangement with Baycorp there are minimum payment requirements depending upon the outstanding debt amount.
(d) The matter that Ms Kilroy referred to was resolved by the Fines Enforcement Registry and Baycorp at the time Ms Kilroy raised it.
The Department of Justice has a contract with Baycorp (WA) Pty Ltd for the provision of fine enforcement services to assist the Sheriff of Western Australia in collecting unpaid fines for which enforcement warrants have been issued. The debts remain with the State at all times and any fine payments collected by the company are forwarded to the Department in their entirety. The company is paid on a fee for service basis.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) There is no reason why someone wouldn’t be able to pay in full a fine debt that is being managed by Baycorp. However, if a fine debtor wishes to enter into a time-to-pay arrangement with Baycorp there are minimum payment requirements depending upon the outstanding debt amount.
(d) The matter that Ms Kilroy referred to was resolved by the Fines Enforcement Registry and Baycorp at the time Ms Kilroy raised it.
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