Fines relief for vulnerable people through the WDO Scheme

Issue

When someone doesn’t pay a fine, there are steps the government can take, including suspending a driver’s licence, cancelling car registration, seizing property, and garnishing wages or bank accounts.

Without a driver licence, it can be difficult to keep or find a job, especially in regional areas with limited public transport.

Driving on a suspended licence is illegal, though some still do it, accumulating more fines - and ultimately ending up in jail.

What the government did

The NSW Government introduced the world-first Work and Development Orders (WDOs) Scheme to help people who can't pay their fines.

A WDO allows someone to clear their fines by up to $1000 per month by carrying out approved activities that benefit both themselves and the community. These activities include:

• doing volunteer work for charities
• completing an education course
• receiving financial counselling
• undergoing medical treatment including treatment for mental health issues.

Suspension of a driver’s licence can also be lifted so a person can continue to drive while completing a WDO.

What was achieved

A WDO allows customers to gain much-needed skills, knowledge and treatment, and connects them to services that help them tackle issues beyond outstanding fines.

By July 2019:

• more than 135,000 WDOs were completed or ongoing
• $168 million in fines debt was resolved
• more than half of WDOs involved mental health treatment plans
• 1 in 5 WDOs were taken by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people
• 1 in 4 WDOs were taken by people under 25 years, breaking the cycle of fines debt early.