Covid-19: Australia’s Queensland state can seize savings, homes and driver’s licenses from people with unpaid Covid fines
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Australians have amassed so many fines for violations of Covid 19 mandates, described as authoritarian in this country by many observers, that the state of Queensland is now threatening to take action against those who have not paid, even stripping them of their bank accounts, homes or driver’s licenses.
As reported by the Brisbane Times, Queensland, Brisbane is the capital, has imposed more than 3,046 fines on 255 people and businesses accused of “breaching regulations” during the coronavirus pandemic. The penalties total $5.2 million.
However, this is not surprising given the regulations that have been put in place. For example, Australians can be fined if they stray too far from home, stay outside for more than an hour if caught without a mask, and face a fine even if they are alone.
(Last Saturday, Australians from across the country gathered in Melbourne to protest the Covid coercive measures)
Police distribute fines on the street and at random checkpoints set up on the roads. These checkpoints were ostensibly put in place to control the covid pandemic and to track contacts.
In addition, those returning to Queensland are subject to strict quarantine regulations. They are forced to go into quarantine and pay hotel costs for the time they are isolated.
Vaccination cards have been introduced in the form of digital QR codes that are scanned by cell phones. The scans record their whereabouts, making it easier for police to detect Covid violations.
In addition, most Queenslanders have been out of work for months due to the pandemic, leaving the government sitting on a mountain of unpaid tickets. Only about 56.4% of fines have been or are in the process of being paid; 25.2% “were being investigated or were still open with no further action taken.”
The State Penalty Enforcement Registry (SPER) has taken care of the remaining fines and is now conducting “active enforcement” on another 18.4% of the penalties, worth about $1 million, which, according to a spokesman, “may include seizing accounts or wages, recording liens on the property or suspending driver’s licenses,” the newspaper said.
That means if you’re caught breaking Covid regulations and don’t pay the fine, you could lose your home, your savings, or your driving privileges.
“Queenslanders rightly expect travelers to pay for their hotel stays in quarantine, not have taxpayers foot the bill,” a Queensland Health spokeswoman told The Times.
With 2,045 significantly overdue hotel bills (out of 44,350) totaling $5.7 million still unpaid, Queensland turns to private collection agencies. Interestingly, the Queensland Health spokeswoman did not say how much commission the collection agencies might receive under the agreement because it is a confidential business,” the Times wrote.
REBELLION HAS BEGUN IN MELBOURNE’ SOMETHING AMAZING IS HAPPENING’
Melbourne is in an uproar, says ‘Aussie Cossack’ Simeon Boikov in a YouTube video to 125,000 subscribers. “It’s a beautiful sight. I’m extremely proud,” said Boikov, who also expects an uprising in Sydney soon. “This is fantastic.”
He thanks all the “freedom fighters”, independent journalists, construction workers, fathers, and mothers in the video. “It’s all coming together. In the distance, we can hear the victory stream.”
“Melbourne has been taken over by Australians. Late last month, the world’s most extended lockdown in the city came to an end. People are taking to the streets. We are no longer talking about a few construction workers or a handful of protesters here and there; it has become a huge movement.”
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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief