Thousands of COVID-19 related fines, worth millions of dollars, will be removed and refunded.
The fines were issued by NSW Police to members of the public who allegedly breached health orders during the pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
Maurice Blackburn’s lawyers argued the fines – which ranged between $1,000 and $5,000 – were invalid.
The NSW government withdrew 33,000 fines issued during the pandemic two years ago, after a test case relating to “limited information” in some penalty notices not complying with the NSW Fines Act State.
The remaining 23,000 fines will now also be waived.
This brings the total of all fine withdrawals to $15 million, the Redfern Legal Center said.
Samantha Lee, supervising attorney at the center, said it was a “significant victory for accountability.”
She added: “The aim has always been to seek justice for all people in NSW who have been issued an invalid fine.
“Added to this is the injustice of fines which do not clearly specify the offense that the person is accused of having committed.”
The impact of COVID-related fines on marginalized communities and children was disproportionate, unreasonable and unfair.
Maurice Blackburn had said he would pursue a class action if Revenue NSW did not stand down and repay the remaining COVID-19 related fines.
The firm’s Jennifer Kanis said: “When people are fined, they have a right to know what offense they are accused of committing.
“We are pleased that the NSW Government has agreed to withdraw and refund the remaining 23,000 invalid COVID fines.
“But it is important to note that it was only after the government was alerted to the prospect of class action that it agreed to act.”
The NSW Department of Customer Services said “approximately $5.5 million” would be refunded to people who had fully or partially paid their fine.
Fines Administration Commissioner Scott Johnston said Revenue NSW would contact affected customers in the coming days.
“Following representations made to the Commissioner of Police and myself regarding the validity of the COVID-19 penalty notices, I have decided to exercise my statutory authority and withdraw these notices,” he said. declared.
Customers who have contested their fines and have already had them finalized or remain before the courts will not be impacted by the withdrawal.
– Additional reporting by Australian Associated Press
