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Published: September 25, 2025
SPER: An Overview
Who is SPER?
The State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) is the State government agency responsible for collecting and enforcing unpaid fines issued in Queensland. SPER is a division of Queensland Revenue Office.
How does my fine get to SPER?
Infringement fines are registered with SPER if a person fails to respond to an Infringement Notice within 28 days of the Notice. A registration fee will be added to the amount the person owes to SPER.
Court-ordered penalties are registered with SPER once the penalty is entered in the Courts’ system. There is no registration fee added to these penalties.
In some limited circumstances, Victim Assist Queensland can recover the amount is paid to a victim of violence from the person that caused the violence. We discuss this in more detail below. If left unpaid, Victim Assist will register the debt with SPER for collection under the Offender Debt Recovery Program. There is no registration fee added.
How does SPER contact me about the debt?
SPER will send out an Enforcement Order. This is basically a reissuing of the fine and is the first notification that the fine or debt has been registered with SPER.
The Enforcement Order will set out information including the details of the debt, options to respond, and a date by which payment (or contacting SPER to arrange a different option) is required.
What power does SPER have?
SPER has a number of enforcement powers it can use if debts remain unpaid. The most common enforcement action is a licence suspension. To enforce the amounts owing, SPER can:
- suspend a driver licence
- order a person’s bank, employer or a person that owes them money to pay money to SPER. This is called a Fine Collection Notice
- issue an ‘enforcement warrant’ which allows SPER to:
- immobilise a vehicle
- seize and sell property
- register an interest in property
- send the person to prison (although this rarely happens)
A community member may reach out for help because SPER is taking enforcement action or you may find out that enforcement action (like a suspended license) has already been taken.
Sper has a lot of power to enforce the debts it collects. However, there are some limits to these powers.
For example, while SPER can order a bank to redirect money from a person’s account, there is a ‘protected amount’. In late 2024, this amount was about $515 a week. If a bank receives a Fine Collection Notice, it isn’t allowed to reduce the person’s bank balance below this protected amount.
Other protections exist for the different types of enforcement. Everyday Law in Queensland has a more detailed discussion on SPER’s powers and protections that exist.
A community member can stop enforcement action by taking steps to address their SPER debt by setting up a payment plan, completing a Work and Development Order, or otherwise address the unpaid amount.
Different types of fines that SPER collects
SPER only collects certain types of debts for the government. It doesn’t collect debts for private companies, although it does redirect money it collects for court ordered restitution or compensation.
Understanding the type of fine can help your client to determine what steps can be taken to respond to or address the debt.
In general terms, there are three categories of fines:
Infringement Notices
If a community member receives a fine, they will be given an infringement notice.
Infringement notices are issued by government departments (for example, the Queensland Police Service or Department of Transport and Main Roads). They can be issued on-the-spot or sent by email or post.
There are a number of common offences that may lead to an infringement notice, such as speeding or other driving offences, public space offences, fare evasion, and failing to respond to a toll demand notice.
Infringement Notices require a response within 28 days, or the fine will be referred to SPER. We have more information on Responding to an Infringement Notice
Court fines
If a person is found guilty of an offence, this may result in a Court fine. Sometimes a Court imposes a monetary penalty (that is, a fine) or orders that they pay compensation or restitution. These penalties are registered with SPER for collection.
An offender levy is also added to the SPER debt, for each court fine. This is an administrative fee.
Victims of Crime assistance
Where Victim Assist Queensland has granted financial assistance to a victim of crime, and the offender is also convicted by a Court, the government may seek to recover the assistance paid from the offender.
VAQ can register the debt with SPER for collection. The community member that was convicted of the offence will receive a recovery notice from the Offender Debt Recovery Program.
