Advertisement

Family ties: Public servant, her husband and son face court over withdrawal of traffic fines

Police are investigating several serving and former public servants within the Queensland Revenue Office over allegations they waived camera-detected traffic fines for themselves or people they know. One public servant has been charged.

 

 

Jan 17, 2024, updated Jan 17, 2024
A mobile speed camera is seen on the M1 Motorway south of Brisbane, Monday, January 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

A mobile speed camera is seen on the M1 Motorway south of Brisbane, Monday, January 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

A public servant in the Queensland Revenue Office allegedly misused her position, government computer and inside knowledge to wipe her son’s three traffic fines, InQueensland can reveal.

The Brisbane woman, her son, and husband have all been charged with a series of offences as part of a Queensland Police investigation into the alleged cover-up.

The 43-year-old woman, who worked in the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO), has been charged with 11 offences.

The criminal charges include three counts of misconduct in public office with benefit which each carries a maximum of seven years jail if convicted.

Queensland Treasury confirmed several other QRO former and current public servants from the  have been referred to Queensland police for investigation.

InQueensland has been told the allegations relate to a “nest” of former and current public servants who waived traffic camera detected fines for themselves and/or people known to them.

The QRO administers and manages fines including camera detected offences (e.g. red light, speed, seatbelt and mobile phone) and failure to comply with demand notices for overdue tolls.

InQueensland has been told the integrity processes within Treasury allegedly detected the woman’s alleged actions involving her son’s traffic fines.

The woman, who is also a registered Queensland Justice of the Peace, resigned from her supervisor position last November, shortly after police charged her.

Her son is a civilian employee with Queensland Police. He was suspended from his job in Operations Support Command in October last year after police laid charges.

The 25-year-old  was charged with six offences.

These included knowingly making false declarations to his mother that he was not the driver for three different traffic offences committed between February 2022 and January 2023.

The addresses for the majority of the family’s charges are listed as 1 William Street Brisbane City where the QRO is located.

The woman’s son was also charged with separate counts of dishonestly inducing the Queensland Revenue Office and Police Commissioner to reissue a photographic detection device notice which both were lawfully entitled to abstain from doing.

The charges arise from him allegedly declaring he was not the driver committing the offences and nominating someone else.

Like his mother, he was charged with fraud and dishonestly gaining a benefit or advantage in having his traffic infringements withdrawn. The charge carries up to five years jail if convicted.

His mother’s position is listed as supervisor on her bench charge sheets which were viewed by InQueensland.

One of her charges for misconduct in public office relates to information she allegedly dealt with between June 2022 and January 2023.

“… being employed as a public officer with intent to dishonestly gain a benefit for (her son) details with information namely traffic infringement policy and procedure gained because of the said (woman’s office),’’ according to court documents.

The woman is also charged with making false declarations before her  husband in in relation to the son’s traffic offences.

She was also charged with two counts of allegedly misusing a restricted government computer in the Queensland Revenue Office, without permission.

InQueensland in your inbox. The best local news every workday at lunch time.
By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement andPrivacy Policy & Cookie Statement. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

This was to allegedly withdraw her son’s traffic infringements between February and April 2022.

The woman’s husband, 48, has been charged with two offences – making a false declaration in relation to the woman’s son’s traffic infringements in December 2022.

He was also charged with fraud, dishonestly inducing the Queensland Revenue Office to reissue a photographic detection device notice the office was lawfully entitled to abstain from doing. His occupation was not listed on the bench charge sheets.

All three members of the family appeared in the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court last November and are currently on bail.

Their matters are all adjourned to next month.

A Queensland Treasury spokesperson said in a statement the department was aware a former staff member in the QRO had been criminally charged.

“Several other former and current staff have also been referred to Queensland Police Service for investigation,’’ the spokesperson said.

All matters of alleged misconduct by public servants are immediately referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission  in line with legislation and QT policies, the spokesperson said.

“We cannot comment as this matter is subject to ongoing investigations by the Queensland Police Service.

“QT (Queensland Treasury) takes all allegations of unethical and alleged criminal conduct extremely seriously and will continue to work closely with QPS on this matter,’’ the spokesperson said.

The QRO has a dedicated induction and ongoing education program for all employees which include mandatory training on ethical decision making and corruption, the spokesperson said.

“Due to the nature of its work, QRO has processes that monitor staff activities in the workplace, particularly in relation to the management of sensitive information,’’ the spokesperson said.

Under Queensland law when you are fined for camera detected traffic offences, you have 28 days from the date of issue to pay it in full or set up a payment plan through the State Penalty Enforcement Register (SPER), transfer it to someone else or dispute it in court.

If you nominate another driver, the person can make a declaration they were not the driver of the car at the time, or that their car was sold or stolen before the traffic infringement was committed.

If the person cannot provide the details of the other driver, they must complete a statutory declaration.

Queensland Police declined to comment as the investigation is ongoing.

The Crime and Corruption Commission declined to comment.

 

Local News Matters
Advertisement

We strive to deliver the best local independent coverage of the issues that matter to Queenslanders.

Copyright © 2024 InQueensland.
All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy