Comment: It was Pauline Hanson's One Nation which first raised the issue of garnishing salaries of fine defaulters in preference of sending them to jail.
You will note that no credit is given to One Nation while the "Opposition" gets a special mention.
In the lead up to the Queensland State Election in June 1998 The Courier-Mail totally ignored One Nation policy including this one... seen at this link (quote):
One Nation recognises that our Police need to be free to pursue those offenders who are a genuine threat to our community. Over 25% of prisoners admitted to Queensland gaols are fine defaulters. It is expensive and counter productive to goal these offenders. Gaol should only be considered in extreme circumstances. Fine defaulters will have their income or social security garnished at its source to ensure fine payment, or in the case of extreme financial hardship they should be sentenced to community service.
Editorial, The Courier-Mail Monday 13th September 1999
The number of Queenslanders jailed for not paying fines has jumped dramatically in recent years. The proportion of fine defaulters admitters to jail has more than doubled in 1997-98 compared with previous years. During that 12 month period, fine defaulters accounted for more than a quarter, or 2721, of those sent to jail. While Queensland had 151 defaulters in June 1998, New South Wales only has two.
In response to the situation, the State Government will allocate Au$9.96 million from this week's budget to set up a registry and associated call centre to collect unpaid court and traffic fines. In June, Attorney General Matt Foley introduced legislation in Parliament to establish the state penalties enforcement registry. The registry will track all court imposed fines, infringement notices such as speeding tickets and other penalties such as restitution, compensation for victims of crime and bail forfeitures. The call centre will inform fine defaulters of payment options which can keep them out of jail. The options will include the suspension of driver's licences, warrants to seize assets and sell property, weekly wage deductions and direct debit of bank accounts. Community service options will be available only if a person is genuinely unable to pay a fine. And jail will be seen as a last resort.
Fines must be enforceable to ensure the basis of our justice system is not undermined. But it does not make sense to jail a person over a minor breach of the law. Prisons are often seen as a university for criminals. And it is unlikely much good can come from exposing generally law-abiding citizens to such an environment. It also makes little sense to jail fine defaulters. While unpaid fines have accrued to more than Au$62 million since July 1995, it costs Queensland taxpayers more than Au$23 million to jail fine defaulters annually. The seizure of property and direct debits from bank accounts are far more desirable when dealing with fine defaulters.
Consecutive governments have raised the issue of jailed fine defaulters. But until now, no concrete action has been taken. The Beattie government should be applauded for adopting the scheme. But some credit should also go to the Opposition, which originally proposed the scheme.