Arrogant Revenue Raising - reaping what they sow

Governments set about sneaky revenue raising to make up for the waste and extravagance they think will impress us. 
LNP rejected the experience of those at the coal face of the justice system when they ripped off the idea of an offender levy as a fundraiser. 
It means three hits on those found or pleading guilty in the courts to teach them a lesson and raise funds for LNP.
LNP had another "exclusive" leak on the Courier Mail about the inefficiency of their debt collection house and starting to recogne the consequences of sneaky revenue raising. 
LNP does not seem committed to making Community Service work. 
Helping bad people repay a debt to society with acts of service does not bring in cash. 
Thousands of hours of work needs to be done in the community: restoring still devastated flood communities, helping farmers clear and rebuild fencelines, rehabilitating public property, serving in nursing homes, but, LNP wants cash. 
It means the "How much can you build up on your SPER account?" game show continues. 
LNP will end up wiping the slate clean for huge debts with an amnesty. Those who cop revenue raising strategies and pay up on time will be thankful they had the opportunity to donate to the state.
LNP ignored experienced people who spoke out against the offender levy because she knew better. She bragged it would raise more than a $million a month. 
LNP refuses to reveal how she has spent money that was supposed to help victims of crime. Apparently the million a month is available for fancy advertising and paying Police wages or overtime and that is helpful to victims.
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ANOTHER HIT: Queenslanders are struggling to cope with an increasing debt burden.  
The Courier-Mail : Robyn Ironside

QUEENSLAND'S pile of debt from unpaid fines is soaring by $330,000 a day amid claims people are being slugged for too many trivial offences.

Unpaid fines have increased by more than $60 million since the Treasurer announced new measures to rein in the mountain of outstanding debt.
At the end of last month, $838 million was owing, compared with $777 million in September - shortly before a trial of professional debt collectors began.
Fines include everything from failing to vote in elections and jaywalking to offences such as speeding and drink driving.
Although an average $19.8 million a month has been repaid to the State Government, the total debt has continued to grow by about $10 million a month.
If it continues at that rate, the debt will exceed $1 billion in just over a year. 
Queensland Consumers Association secretary Max Howard blamed the rapidly escalating debt on "over the top" fines and penalties imposed by government and other organisations.

In the past five months alone, the Electoral Commission of Queensland has registered 166,209 fines worth $27 million with the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) for people who failed to vote in recent elections.
Major Neil Dickson from the Salvation Army said people were finding it more difficult to make ends meet, often as a result of an unexpected expense such as a fine on top of other cost-of-living expenses.
A Treasury Department spokeswoman said the main reason for the blowout in Queenslanders' debt was "increasing volumes of unpaid debts registered with SPER".
She said as well as the large volume of ECQ fines, the new offender levy had had "some impact" - as was predicted by legal groups.
Introduced by the Newman Government last year, the $100 to $300 levy is automatically referred to SPER for anyone who appears in court and pleads or is found guilty of an offence.
Since November, 44,744 payments totalling $4.3 million have been registered with SPER.
Queensland Council of Social Service CEO Mark Henley said the Government's management of unpaid fines needed to take into account a person's capacity to pay.
"When you consider that an unemployed person on Newstart is already living below the poverty line, they have a very limited capacity to pay fines," Mr Henley said.
"Paying back those debts shouldn't cause further hardship or poverty."
Major Dickson said Salvation Army community centres were seeing more people in need of assistance than six months ago.
"What we're seeing this year is people seeking help with the basics like food, petrol for their cars, assistance with utility bills. There's certainly a large number of individuals and families who are struggling to cope."
Mr Howard urged a rethink on how fines were imposed and collected.
"When you've got unpaid fines increasing at a rate of $10 million a month, it suggests the whole system is broken. We'd like to see more innovative ways of dealing with unpaid fines, and a review of the range of fines available."
The Treasury spokeswoman said the trial of mercantile agents would continue until June, when the Government would assess its effectiveness.
The trial is expected to recover an additional $47 million from offenders who persistently fail to make payments to SPER.
Debt collectors are managing 16,000 cases with outstanding debts of almost $30 million, including 4000 without a current address on file.
The spokeswoman said the rate of debt recovery had been hampered by the temporary suspension of payments for flood-affected people.
"While enforcement action is in the process of being re-activated, ongoing provisions exist for the case management of debtors impacted by natural disasters," she said.
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Token Payment to Victims of Crime Groups

There is no mention in your statement where funding is coming from for the victim of crime initiatives.

Do you believe it is clumsy to have two agencies managing support for victims of crime?

I thought LNP was committed to reducing bureaucratic waste and inefficiency?

Is this money from the Offender Levy?

It would seem to be a mean spirited payment - less than $100,000 once it passes through all the different layers of bureacracy.

LNP promised more than $1 million a month from the Offender Levy when she rejected advice of those who had some experience in the area and bulldozed the initiative through the Parliament.

With a slush fund from the Offender Levy (the third hit on criminals) amounting to more than $9 million by now it seems mean spirited to offer a total of $100,000 to those supporting victims of crime.

My understanding is LNP has attempted to refuse accountability for the Offender Levy by claiming it is managed by SPER and the Treasury. 

It seemed confusing whether she was committing to pay for extra Police or - in a tricky manner - support victims of crime - because that is what Police do - they support victims of crime. 

Could you clarify how much has been raised as a result of the Offender Levy?

Could you clarify the consequences of the Levy for those administering the fines and who warned LNP an Offender Levy was not going to be the golden goose she promoted.

I am disappointed simple questions have not been answered by your department. 

Sadly, these crumbs thrown to victims groups are about publicity and appearing concerned:  

Media Release when thought bubble is first thought of, when guidelines are published, when grant is available, when grant closes, when funding is offered, when cheque is handed over. 

LNP gets great value for $100,000.

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Attorney-General offers extra funding for victims of crime The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has encouraged not-for-profit organisations to apply for funding through the Building Capacity for Victims of Crime program. A total package of $100,000 will be distributed among successful applicants for projects to improve assistance and support to victims of crime. “This funding will help victims of crime in Queensland get their lives back on track. This builds on other Victim Assist initiatives such as the Victims of Crime Services Funding Program.” The funding is available to non-government, not-for-profit organisations and is aimed at reducing gaps in the services for victims of crime. For a copy of the guidelines outlining eligibility and requirements, or to obtain a submission form, please contact Victim Assist Queensland on 1300 546 587. [ENDS] 8 April 2013