Claims from NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet that councils use parking fines as a revenue “sugar hit” has angered Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba.
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Mr Perottet’s remarks were made as part of a call for local councils to follow the state government’s lead in reducing 10 of the most common parking fines and introducing a “grace period” for paid parking.
The grace period would apply to motorists who have paid for at least an hour’s parking where a paper ticket was issued.
They would get an extra 10 minutes to return to their car before being fined.
“Councils need to stop using parking fines as an excuse to get a sugar hit and look at ways they can save ratepayers’ money rather than hit them in the hip pocket,” Mr Perottet said.
Both Wollongong and Shellharbour council parking officers already give parkers such a grace period.
A Wollongong City Council spokeswoman said it was not an easy process to reduce parking fines.
“A proposal to consider changes to council’s parking infringements would need to be considered by council at a council meeting,” she said.
“Council’s fees and charges are considered in the first quarter of each year as part of its annual planning process.”
A Shellharbour City Council spokeswoman said only three of the 10 fines reduced by the government applied in its area.
She also said changes to fines would require a council resolution and added its parking officers do not operate under fine quota systems.
Cr Saliba branded the Treasurer’s “sugar hit” comments as “offensive”.
“We don’t have any paid parking in Shellharbour city,” Cr Saliba said.
“We had [the administration] of parking fines foisted on us by the state government some years ago.
“They set the times and we then have to implement them. And now we’re getting told this is about getting extra revenue for local government.
“The minister should have been a little bit more considerate of local government when he shot off his mouth.”
Cr Saliba said Mr Perottet was engaging in political pointscoring in trying to make it seem as though the government was giving something back.
“It’s like they’re giving the community something,” she said.
“They’re not giving the community anything . They’re forcing local government to make these decisions.”
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
