Tasmania’s unique practice of publishing names and addresses of those who owe fines appears to be on the radar for an overhaul.
It’s a way for the Justice Department to prompt fine defaulters into paying up and Tasmania’s the only Australian jurisdiction where it happens.
Premier Rockliff has been asked if it troubles him.
“Yes it does, I don’t like it and we’ll fix it.”
Greg Barns SC from the Prisoners Legal Service in Hobart is already seeing some movement in that space.
“I’ve noticed despite calls that we’ve made over 15 years, finally because of media attention this week, the list seems to have been taken down, certainly overnight, when I checked.”
Labor leader Rebecca White is on board.
“We welcome the decision by the Premier that he’s going to address this because it is concerning and I think we are past the time when you name and shame people and expect that to resolve a problem because it very rarely does.”
