Changes to Driver Licence Sanctions in Your CLSD Region
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Changes to Driver Licence Sanctions in Your CLSD Region In 2020, Revenue NSW introduced a hardship program focused on First Nations people and young people. As a result, the use of driver licence sanctions for overdue fine debt changed on Monday 28th September 2020 in some locations. How are overdue fines and driver licence sanctions related? If a person has overdue fines, their driver licence may be suspended. The driver licence suspension may be removed if the person: • pays a lump sum to Revenue NSW, or • enters a payment plan with Revenue NSW, or • is approved for a WDO. A driver licence suspension can be applied for multiple reasons, so even after being told that a driver licence suspension for unpaid fines has been removed, people should always double check that it is OK to drive by contacting Service NSW. Driver licence restrictions can also be put on interstate licences and cannot be removed easily. If you have a client in this situation, they should get legal advice. What has changed? Now, driver licence sanctions will not be imposed as a first response to unpaid fines for enforcement orders that were issued on or after 28 September 2020 to First Nations people and young people who live in the target locations. What are the target locations? Locations that the Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies as: • very remote, • remote • outer regional, and • Inner regional post codes where at least 9% of the population are First Nations People. Included target locations on the South Coast are the towns of Batemans Bay, Bega, Bodalla, Eden, Eurobodalla, Mogo, Narooma, Nowra Hill, Nowra Naval PO, Merimbula, Pambula, Tilba and Wallaga Lake. Locations that are not included are the larger coastal towns of Nowra, Nowra DC, Nowra East, Ulladulla, Mollymook, and Moruya, as well as Queanbeyan and Cooma. Please find a complete list of target locations in and around the South Coast CLSD region on the following page. Full list of target locations in the South CLSD Region Postcode Locations 2536 Batehaven, Batemans Bay, Benandarah, Bimbimbie, Buckenbowra, Catalina, Currowan, Denhams Beach, Durras North, East Lynne, Guerilla Bay, Jeremadra, Lilli Pilli, Long Beach, Maloneys Beach, Malua Bay, Mogo, Nelligen, North Batemans Bay, Pebbly Beach, Rosedale, Runnyford, South Durras, Sunshine Bay, Surf Beach, Surfside, Woodlands 2540 Bamarang, Barringella, Basin View, Beecroft Peninsula, Berrara, Bewong, Bolong, Boolijah, Bream Beach, Browns Mountain, Brundee, Buangla, Burrier, Callala Bay, Callala Beach, Cambewarra, Cambewarra Village, Comberton, Comerong Island, Cudmirrah, Culburra Beach, Currarong, Erowal Bay, Ettrema, Falls Creek, Greenwell Point, HMAS Albatross, HMAS Creswell (ACT), Huskisson, Hyams Beach, Illaroo, Jerrawangala, Jervis Bay, Kinghorne, Longreach, Mayfield, Meroo Meadow, Mondayong, Moollattoo, Mundamia, Myola, Nowra Hill, Nowra Naval PO, Numbaa, Old Erowal Bay, Orient Point, Parma, Pyree, Sanctuary Point, St Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Swanhaven, Tallowal, Tapitallee, Terara, Tomerong, Tullarwalla, Twelve Mile Peg, Vincentia, Wandandian, Watersleigh, Wollumboola, Woollamia, Worrigee, Worrowing Heights, Wreck Bay (ACT), Wrights Beach, Yalwal, Yerriyong 2545 Belowra, Bodalla, Cadgee, Eurobodalla, Nerrigundah and Potato Point 2546 Akolee, Barragga Bay, Bermagui, Central Tilba, Corunna, Cuttagee, Dalmeny, Dignams Creek, Kianga, Murrah, Mystery Bay, Narooma, North Narooma, Tilba, Tinpot, Wadbilliga and Wallaga Lake 2548 Berrambool, Bournda, Merimbula, Mirador, Tura Beach, Yellow Pinch 2549 Bald Hills, Broadwater, Greigs Flat, Lochiel, Millingandi, Nethercote, Pambula, Pambula Beach and South Pambula. 2550 Angledale, Bega, Bemboka, Black Range, Brogo, Buckajo, Burragate, Candelo, Chinnock, Cobargo, Coolagolite, Coolangubra, Coopers Gully, Devils Hole, Doctor George Mountain, Frogs Hollow, Greendale, Jellat Jellat, Kalaru, Kameruka 2551 Boydtown, Eden, Edrom, Green Cape, Kiah, Nadgee, Narrabarba, Nullica, Nungatta, Nungatta South, Timbillica, Wonboyn, Wonboyn Lake and Wonboyn North 2625 Thredbo 2627 Bullocks Flat, Burrungubugge, Crackenback, Creel Bay, East Jindabyne, Grosses Plain, Ingebirah, Ingeegoodbee, Jacobs River, Jindabyne, Kalkite, Kosciuszko, Kosciuszko National Park, Moonbah, Ngarigo and Pilot Wilderness. 2628 Avonside, Beloka, Berridale, Braemar Bay, Byadbo Wilderness, Cootralantra, Eucumbene, Hill Top, Jimenbuen, Nimmo, Numbla Vale, Paupong, Rocky Plain and Snowy Plain. 2629 Adaminaby, Anglers Reach, Bolaro, Broken Dam, Cabramurra, Gooandra, Kiandra, Long Plain, Nungar, Old Adaminaby, Providence Portal, Tantangara, Tolbar and Yaouk. 2631 Ando, Boco, Creewah, Glen Allen, Greenlands, Holts Flat, Jincumbilly, Kybeyan, Mount Cooper, Nimmitabel, Steeple Flat and Winifred. 2632 Bibbenluke, Bombala, Boni Forest, Bukalong, Cambalong, Cathcart, Coolumbooka, Craigie, Gunningrah, Lords Hill, Merriangaah, Mila, Mount Darragh, Paddy’s Flat, Palarang, Quidong, Rockton and Rosemeath. 2633 Corrowong, Delegate and Tombong What has not changed? This does not mean the end of driver licence sanctions for First Nations people and young people in these locations. Driver licence sanctions will still be imposed if: - a person has an existing driver licence sanction - a person fails to comply with a payment plan or Work and Development Order (WDO) - Revenue NSW cannot engage the person in a payment plan, WDO etc. What does fail to comply mean? A person will fail to comply if: - They do not pay their payment plan as required, so the plan is closed by Revenue NSW (in practice this should be if they miss multiple payments, but under the law it can be just 1); or - Their WDO is closed after (a) a sponsor reports non-compliance, or (b) the sponsor stops reporting. Revenue NSW must send the person a letter about the closure and if the client does not respond in 28 days, a driver licence sanction will be applied. How can you help your clients who may have fines? 1. Ask your clients if they have unpaid fines and call Revenue NSW if they are not sure. If you are a WDO sponsor or registered Advocate with Revenue NSW, you have authority to speak to Revenue NSW and can call the WDO or Advocacy Hotlines yourself. 2. Help your clients to use FineFixer NSW or speak to Revenue NSW about their options for paying off their fines. 3. Make sure your clients only agree to a realistic payment plan or WDO which they can stick with and not fail. 4. Also, remember that vulnerable clients may be able to have their fine written off by Revenue NSW– legal services can help with this. Or you can help your client complete the application online- https://www.apps09.revenue.nsw.gov.au/customer_service/forms/fines/write-off 5. If more help is needed, you can refer your client to Legal Aid’s WDO team at [email protected] .