Page 2429 - Week 11 - Thursday, 2 November 1989
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leftie, as maybe he has recently become? I understand that he does drink wine. I checked on that one, Michael.
I would hope that Mr Duby, who has put up amendments which really serve just to increase the fine and increase the amount of time one has to pay the traffic infringement notice, will now reconsider and support our amendment. I am also somewhat concerned that the Government, in fact, has now indicated it will not support our amendment, having actually talked with Mrs Grassby and having basically worked out our amendments on the basis of what we spoke on. The only thing we did not initially agree to was increasing the fine from $20 to $30 for a final notice. The $30 was indeed Mrs Grassby's suggestion to cover the additional cost. We accept that there is a cost in sending out reminder notices, but reminder notices are currently sent out.
My colleague Mrs Nolan will speak to the Assembly and indicate to the Assembly what occurs in other States in relation to this matter. We believe that reminder notices are absolutely essential for this type of legislation, given that the thrust of this legislation is to make these matters akin to normal civil collection procedures in a court. Indeed, it is perhaps a very accurate description to say that, in many ways, it is like the type of penalty people get when they do not pay their telephone bill on time and pay a reconnection fee. Here there are penalties which involve a late fee for one who does not pay and further quite punitive measures if one continues not to pay, but it is not criminal.
For consistency, I would urge upon members of the Assembly to vote for our amendments. Apart from that, Mr Speaker, we have no difficulty regarding the rest of the legislation. This legislation will dramatically increase the amount of time the courts have to deal with other matters. It will simplify procedures; I think it is generally welcomed by all sections who have expertise in this area; and, of course, my party will be supporting it. I would urge other members, though, to carefully consider our amendments and vote with us in relation to them so that we can have those reminder notices.
I would even re-emphasise to Michael Moore, who I understand is wavering somewhat on this, that he should do this. This would be very consistent with his new-found stance now that he has left his old party and is taking on the role of a sort of poor man's Tony Fleming. I commend our amendments to the Assembly and certainly the rest of the Bill.
MR STEVENSON (4.01): I commend Mr Stefaniak's amendments to the house for some very practical reasons that I think we should all look at and acknowledge. There are any number of reasons why people may practically not know that a ticket has been issued to the vehicle, because after all it is not issued to them; it is issued to a vehicle. Mr
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