Aussie woman slapped with massive fine and could lose driver's licence
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
An Australian woman could lose her driver licence after failing to vote in a local government election .
She shared a photo of a State Penalties Enforcement Registry letter showing she owed $241.85 and risked losing her licence if she didn't pay by October 16, 2025.
The notice warns: 'Pay your overdue debt or we will suspend your driver licence.'
In Queensland , voting in state and local elections is compulsory.
Those who fail to vote receive a notice from the Electoral Commission of Queensland. The penalty for not voting is $166.90, though the amount can be halved if it’s paid by the due date.
If the fine goes unpaid or the ECQ believes reminders have been ignored, it is referred to SPER under the State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999.
Once SPER takes over, an $80.85 registration fee is added.
If payment is still not made, SPER can begin enforcement action, including suspending the person’s licence, garnishing wages, or deducting funds directly from a bank account.
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I'd hardly call $250 a massive fine but still a good idea to encourage voting (as long as there's an option to pick no one)
Morning Free...you don't have to pick one..so long as your name is marked off the register you can turn around and walk out without voting..
I would be more embarrassed here in my State having the Sheriff roll up at your door asking why and copping a fine at home...and all the neighbours having a Captain Cook..(look)..
Yes voting in all elections here is compulsory and you don't stuff around with it..if you do you pay the consequences...
Cool Shona, that's good to know
Lol nothing like public embarrassment to change someone's behaiviour
funny, somehow that doesn't work on maga ...
Compulsory voting uses coercion for legitimize an election. Not voting is a form of dissent and protest.
Don't claim people have a right to protest and them deny them that right.
No one is denying anything..
You want to protest then vote informal they are counted, don't put the paper in the ballot box, walk in register and walk out, throw a demo in the street...
You are forced to legitimize the election process by walking into the polling station.
I don't know the history of voting in Australia. But voting in the United States has been fraught with corruption, bribery, and coercion for a considerable amount of our history. Voting has been compulsory in the past and enforced by ward bosses and political machines. We don't want to go back to compulsory voting.
Here in the States voting at designated polling stations is monitored to prevent electioneering. That controlled voting was put in place to overcome coercion by ward bosses and political machines. Now that controlled voting process has been replaced with uncontrolled, unmonitored voting that cannot be certified free of interference. Mail in voting allows a return of ward bosses and political machines. The legitimacy of our voting process has been undermined by partisan interests. We don't want that kind of corruption to return to our voting.
Believe whatever you wish
Less people should vote. Forcing people to vote is tyranny.
Not at all..
At least this way people can't sook and whinge about who was voted in on a small percentage of the voting population because they couldn't get off their arses to do it...
We have been given the privilege of voting and we use it....
All forcing someone to vote does is cancel out the vote of someone who actually cares and puts some thought into it,
This suggests that all voters actually seriously think about who they vote for
Nope sorry disagree with that..
Here you will get the ones who will vote for one party all their lives regardless..
Then you getting the swinging voter who ever "thinks" they will get a better deal..
Others will never vote for a party so they vote informal..
To be honest when we compare with the US system and ours, I prefer ours...
The drama and mess that seems to follow the US system is enough to give you nightmares...
I doubt they do. The point is, that forcing the least engaged people to vote to avoid punishment just makes the problem that much worse.
I do not believe much thought goes on in a Trump voter brain. The only thing they're concerned about is whether whoever they voted for is "owning the libs". It's not more complicated than that. We're not very far now from a true Idiocracy.
Idiocracy - Ow my balls!
I've known some very "engaged" people, people who research all the candidates, etc.
And yet---some of them make some pretty stupid choices...
That also exists in the U.S. as well. (And to a greater or lesser degree in other democracies).
People are different-- and in a democracy they have a chance to express their opinions.
(Yes-- even people who have different opinions than we do should be allowed to express their opinions in the voting booth!)
Perhaps people who actually sook and whinge should pay an extra fee?
Nah...they just need to get a life...why waste brain cells on pig trough pollies..
I would rather comb the cat..watch paint dry.. count koalas in a gumtree etc etc...
My spouse doesn't vote and then proceeds to whine about the government. I once told him to get off his butt, go register, then vote and then he can bitch.
It had no effect except cause a massive argument
We all have our own opinions
Good movie