Monash Council will be refunding parking fines paid by some motorists between 2006 and 2016. This applies to drivers who sought a review of their fine under the Infringements Act 2006 but did not have their fine withdrawn.
https://www.monash.vic.gov.au/About-Us/News/Council-to-refun…
May be of interest for those who changed address or have some reason council mail won't get to them.
The problem comes not from public or private sector reviewing processes but more from the incentives to not grant leniency. If it was found that the private firm acted in their own best interests (ie: commission earned from denied requests) then that is shameful and council should 100% be held accountable for the work of the private company.
I don’t think these things should be outsourced to private companies that have a vested interest in only lining their own pockets, but the problem is that council would be no difference. The revenue gained from parking fines is like fentanyl laced meth to councils. There is no incentive for them, or any other private entity to actually look at or review parking fines. It’s easier to just stamp “denied” on everything.
The problem with council outsourcing their review process is that it’s like sharing your crack-cocaine with someone else. Pretty soon, you’re going to have to up your supply to support two habits.
The revenue gained from parking fines is like fentanyl laced meth to councils.
Ha!
I think my objection is one of principle but thinking about it, you're probably right that it makes no practical difference. To me, law enforcement and regulation is one of those functions which is an extension of government's monopoly on the use of coercive force (even if that's a little more removed at the local government level), and shouldn't be delegated to third parties. And ultimately, councils can be held accountable for how well their administer these laws and regulations come election time (again, even at the local government level), whereas private companies have no such accountability.
But you're right - practically, the incentives are the same and no one really takes these into account when voting for local council (and no one really votes at the local council level anyway that I know of…).
In an idea utopia, any reviews should be completed by a party that has no vested interest in the outcome. I think it is absolutely ludicrous that the recipient of the revenue is the one that gets to review if it is valid or not.
The only problem with the independent review committee is that they won’t do it for free. Here in lays the issue. Councils should not do it and anyone tied to profit from doing the reviews should not do it. The only course here is to have the court system hear every single fine and review it case by case. But the enormity of doing it that way is just astronomical.
So, while ever there is crack and cash on offer, there will be a system biased in extracting every last piece of it. But I’m glad that the council has been caught out. My only hope is that this is a signal that starts investigations on other councils.
I don’t think these things should be outsourced to private companies that have a vested interest in only lining their own pockets
That's every private business other than, possibly, charities.
The private sector is usually (profanity) hopeless because of the logical reason you just gave. Even when it isn't it never acts for the benefit of tax payers so it has no place administering services to them while it wastes their money.
I don't think you're on the same page book.
You are under your usual delusion that if it’s public, then it’s got to be FOR the public. Wake up, some in the public sector are just as self serving.
For example in recent years, which sector has got the greatest perks and salary rises. Who gets the highest superannuation contributions. Not the private sector.
Greed is greed and there is no magic, that defines that this goes away purely because someone is designated as being public!
Is that guy that wrote that 400p thesis on his parking fine in city of Monash?
Wouldn't matter… by his own words, he never actually put in an actual review request. Only a request for further information.
The icing to the story would have been he was within Monash Council and had he put in a request for review at the time, would have had it externally reviewed and therefore eligible for a refund.
Just like what they're trying to do with Visa privatisation. Governments are all trying to outsource everything.
Less work = less work.
Visa privatisation.
It's only for 10 years and would be an easy boost to the budget.
Lots of corruption incoming
Soon they'll also outsource the outsourcing.
I also got the letter and returned it to them! Do you think it's 100% i'll get the money back? They haven't asked for any bank details. Do you think it'll be a cheque sent to my house?
I got it too.
From the sounds of the letter it appears they will only review the fine, however, on the website, it appears they have already budgeted to refund all fines.
Fingers crossed.. I can't even remember which fine it was. I get too many :(
Haha, yes, fingers crossed. It was so long ago, so it'd feel like free money.
Thanks, I'm sure there will be people who'll benefit. For people's information, it's because:
That this was happening in the first place is already ridiculous - a government body should not be outsourcing law enforcement and regulatory functions to private companies in the first place. (Yes, my views on this extend to private certifiers which are authorised by councils to sign off on building works).