"FineMania" Hits Newcastle

BY OLIVIA DILLON

New data revealed by the State Opposition shows fines issued to motorists in Newcastle from mobile speed cameras have increased 11-fold since warning signs were removed last year.

The data is broken down according to the residential postcodes of drivers and compares January, February and March 2021, after warning signs were removed, to the same months in 2020, when warning signs were still in place. 

The data indicates suburbs within the 2299 postcode suffered the biggest surge, with 122 fines being handed out in the first three months of the year, compared to just five fines given during the same period the year before. This represents a 2340 per cent increase. 

Whole-of state data reveals the increase is also replicated throughout NSW.

State member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp gained access to the numbers through the NSW Upper House and is now accusing the government of revenue raising. 

Crakanthorp noted the figures from February 2021, in which the revenue from 28,000 fines totalled $6.1 million. This amounts to more than the entire 2019/20 financial year, which brought in $5.7 million. 

"I think we all expected to see some kind of rise when the warning signs were removed, but it has gone into absolute overdrive," he said. 

"When we see numbers like this it's hard not to believe that it isn't the Government revenue raising."

"The NRMA was completely opposed to the removal of warning signs because signs educate drivers and make them change their behaviour in real time, rather than when they receive a fine in the mail a few weeks later.

It's unpopular with drivers, unpopular with the NRMA and even the Nationals have spoken out against it, but I'm sure this move was very popular with the Treasurer."

In response to the exponential rise in fines, the NSW Parliament has launched an inquiry into the changes.  

State Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp

Data Reveals Newcastle Has $2.94 Million in Unclaimed Money Sitting in Revenue NSW

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Hunter residents are being urged to check if they are eligible for a portion of the millions of dollars waiting to be claimed through Revenue NSW.

Minister for Finance Damien Tudehope said more than $442 million in forgotten money, including

$2.94 million in Newcastle, was sitting with Revenue NSW, including share dividends, trust accounts, refunds, commissions, deceased estates and money from a range of other sources.

“We know many people are doing it tough, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and households are having to keep a close eye on their budget, which is why I encourage people to check their eligibility. You could have hundreds or thousands of dollars that you didn’t know about,” Mr Tudehope said. 

“This money belongs to the people of NSW and I want to make sure it goes back to its rightful owners.”

Revenue NSW holds more than a million unclaimed items from private companies, State Trustees, local councils and government agencies that can’t be returned to the owner because their contact details are out of date and they cannot be tracked down.

“It’s quick and easy to check if you have unclaimed money. Simply visit the Revenue NSW website and type your name into the free search tool. If you do have a claim, notify Revenue NSW and collect your money,” Mr Tudehope said.

“It only takes a few minutes and you could walk away with some extra money in your pocket.”

The NSW Government holds unclaimed money indefinitely until it is claimed."

Unclaimed money by regional LGA as at 16 April 2020:

Location	Money available to claim
Newcastle	$2.94 million
Central Coast	$4.4 million
Wollongong	$3.4 million
Port Macquarie-Hastings	$813,000
Tamworth	$868,000
Tweed Heads	$737,000
Orange	$681,000
Dubbo	$699,000
Coffs Harbour	$661,000
Wagga Wagga	$667,000
Albury	$594,000
Bathurst	$546,000