1. How to help your clients resolve their SPER debt
North Brisbane Disability Forum
24 August 2016

2. Today’s agenda Our focus
SPER’s role in managing the end-to-end penalty debt system & finalisation options
Improving the way we work
Fine Option Orders
Instalment Plans
Helping your clients
Exploring Work and Development Orders for Queensland
How do we support our stakeholders
Your contacts at SPER
Questions and discussion

3. Our focus
SPER has an important role in upholding the law by recovering unpaid fines and penalties
SPER uses a range of enforcement actions to ensure those who can pay, do
When a person has difficultly paying due to certain circumstances, SPER provides options to help manage the debt

4. A view of penalty debt management in Queensland
SPER’s recovery options
Development of offence or fine policy
e.g. DTMR, DJAG
Reflect in the legislation i.e. Acts and Regulations
Issue monetary penalty/other monetary orders
Collect fees and penalties;
Refer unpaid fines and penalties to SPER
Finalisation options
Financial
One-off payment
Instalment plans (CPAY)
Non-Financial
Fine Option Order (community service)
Good behaviour order
Enforcement options
Driver licence suspension
Fine Collection Notice (garnishee)
Vehicle immobilisation
Vehicle/property seizure & sale
Penalty debt in Queensland has risen dramatically since SPER began in 2000.
Each adult in Queensland now has average 5.2 fines each. Our debt pool has risen to 1.2 Billion dollars.
SPER’s plan – leader in penalty debt management – we aim to do this by being MORE PROACTIVE AND LESS RESPONSIVE
Involvement with leading debt issuing and referral agencies at the formulation stage of offence and fine policy – asking the hard questions like ‘is issuing a fine an effective sanction?’ ‘What are the options?’ EXAMPLE – Court Diversion Program (offering offenders drug and alcohol counselling. offered at bail and sentencing.
Promotion of consultation with SPER by the major issuing and referring agencies at the debt referral stage – negotiations with DTMR have resulted in less tolling fines being referred to SPER
Discuss briefly the types of finalisation and enforcement options
SPER provides feedback and reporting on the effectiveness of fines and penalties as a sanction

5. Improving the way we work
Issuing and Referring Agencies
SPER
SPER Customers
Education and Advocacy Partners
Sharing business intelligence
Leading a cross-government penalty debt management committee
Providing feedback on debt finalisation and effectiveness of infringements
Adopting international new best practice
Implementing a new IT solution
Reviewing resources e.g. ICT
Creating new treatment strategies based on customer profiling
Providing clearer instructions
Revising communication approaches e.g. website, forms, fact sheets
Exploring new payment and enforcement options
Engaging regularly through a dedicated Stakeholder Management team
Providing opportunities for collaboration on community issues
Explaining the options to pay
Program of Reform since 2014
SPER
New Service Solution Partner – CGI - more than an IT solution -
Providing us with new ideas as well as a new system of work
Incorporating new strategies - Behavioural Economics
SPER Customers
Understanding our customer’s needs better
Improving ways we interact with our customers
Education and Advocacy Partners
Embracing opportunities to bring awareness to the community and our customers

6. Helping people experiencing hardship
Extended deferral of enforcement actions
Good behaviour orders
Fine options orders (community service)
Reduced instalment plans
Exploring work and development orders
SPER provides options for people in the following situations:
Are experiencing economic hardship
Are homeless
Live in a remote Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community
Have a disability or impaired decision making capacity
Other circumstances such as undergoing drug rehabilitation or are in or have been released from custody

7. What cannot be converted?
Applying for a Fine Option Order
Eligibility Criteria
Must be a Queensland resident
Experiencing financial hardship
What cannot be converted?
Court Ordered Restitution, Compensation and Offender Levy
Victims Assist Queensland - Compensation Orders
How to apply
<$8,000 complete a Fine Option Order Application
>$8,000 complete a Financial Disclosure Application (FDA)

8. Fine Option Order Process
Application Assessment
Assessed by SPER
Applicants must show financial hardship
Non-eligibility Criteria
Financial hardship has not been demonstrated
Medically unable to complete service or refused previously due to QCS supervisory concerns
The next step
Advised by a ‘Referral Notice’ that states they must report to QCS within 14 days
Undergo interview with Probation and Parole staff
Do three examples on white board

9. Instalment Plans with SPER
Instalment amount is determined by capacity to pay
Need to complete an instalment plan application
Fines over $8,000 also require a Financial Disclosure Application to be submitted
Can be arranged directly through SPER
Weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments
Deducted from bank account, debt/credit card or CPAY
Important to contact SPER if instalment amount cannot be met one day before it is due

10. Helping your clients
Assist with the process - advise your client on SPER’s processes and options. Update current contact details
If an application is refused - encourage your client to contact SPER immediately to make alternative arrangements for payment of debt
Explain the consequences of not acting - to avoid extra fees and enforcement action

11. Exploring Work and Development Orders for Queensland
Based on NSW WDO model
WDO eligibility criteria:
Have a mental illness, intellectual disability or cognitive impairment
Are homeless
Have a serious addiction to drugs, alcohol or volatile substances
Are experiencing acute financial hardship
Expanded range of activities:
Treatment programs and counselling: medical, mental health and/or drug and alcohol
Development programs: educational or life skills course, mentoring
Unpaid work for, or on behalf of, an approved organisation
Underpinned by a genuine partnership between SPER and the community services sector
Add that consultation paper was sent out to community and now responses will be considered when a submission is put forward to cabinet in September
Extensive network of community service organisations, which:
Are accredited to assess the eligibility of individuals for the scheme
Develop activity plans and apply to the scheme on behalf of the individual
Oversee the activities and report on progress

12. How do we support our stakeholders
Provide stakeholders with direct access to us, giving stakeholders a voice for ongoing and strategic decisions
Work in partnership with stakeholders to improve end-to-end penalty debt process
Maintain open and inclusive environment where information, comment, opinion and criticism are valued and utilised
Share learnings between stakeholders

13. Who to contact General enquiries and payments Special consideration
SPER Contact Centre
Special consideration
SPER Individual Considerations Team
Education partner help and support
SPER Stakeholder Management Team
(07)

14. Thank you