Thousands of people have been fined under the Public Health Orders in NSW. Police don’t always get it right.
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How to Appeal a COVID-19 Fine in NSW |
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Online webinar |
What is this webinar about?
Thousands of people have been fined under the Public Health Orders in NSW. Police don’t always get it right.
- What can you do if you think you or your client have been wrongly fined?
- How can you appeal?
This webinar will cover:
- An overview of the most common COVID-19 fines
- Some common mistakes NSW Police have made, that should be appealed
- The appeals process – when, where, how
- Seeking waivers on grounds of financial hardship
- Where to access fact sheets and templates
- Where to get legal advice and assistance
The webinar is targeted at community workers assisting clients experiencing vulnerability, and at the general public interested in or affected by COVID-19 fines.
Where does this information apply? It applies to NSW (Australia) and was correct at 6 October 2021
Presenter: Sam Lee, Police Accountability Solicitor, Redfern Legal Centre.
Enquiries: Nick Manning education@rlc.org.au.
The Powerpoint file of this webinar is at the bottom of this page.
Video recording of this webinar
COVID-19 specific resources
- Lockdown laws: COVID-19 rules and Police Powers in NSW – This RLC fact sheet has been archived and is no longer available.
- On-the-Spot Fines – COVID-19. Your Review Rights and Payment – RLC fact sheet
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Legal Resources for COVID-19 – Legal Aid NSW
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Public Health Orders – NSW Government site
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Public health orders relating to Delta outbreak restrictions
General resources on fines
Revenue NSW /SDRO
Revenue NSW was previously called State Debt Recovery Office (SDRO). Occasionally in resource material the name State Debt Recovery or SDRO may still be used.
Fact sheets and guides
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Fined Out: A practical guide for people having problems with fines – website and PDF
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Fines – web pages by LawAccess
Information for advocates
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Advocacy groups – Revenue NSW web page for advocates
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Review Guidelines – PDF by Revenue NSW
Internal Review
- Application for review of penalty notice: http://www.sdro.nsw.gov.au/lib/docs/forms/sdr_pn_015.pdf
Challenging penalty in Court
- Sample submissions for Court – guilty plea : http://www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au/Pages/representing/lawassist_fines/lawassist_forms_fine/lawassist_sample_submission_to_court.aspx
- Sample character reference: http://www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au/Pages/representing/lawassist_fines/lawassist_forms_fine/lawassist_sample_character_reference_guilty.aspx
Work and Development Orders
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Work and Development Orders: Breaking the cycle of fines debt – 12 minute Legal Aid video
- Work and Development Order Service – Legal Aid web page
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Work and Development Orders – PDF fact sheet by State Debt Recovery
Legal advice
- Many community legal centres provide free, confidential advice on fines www.legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au/advice/about_clcs.html
- Aboriginal Legal Service https://www.alsnswact.org.au/covid-19
- Legal Aid www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/legal-aid-nsw-offices
- Legal Aid Hotline for Under 18s – 1800 10 18 10, 9am to midnight weekdays, 24 hours on weekends
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Homeless Persons Legal Service www.piac.asn.au/legal-help/hpls-clinic-times-locations
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Redfern Legal Centre for residents of our inner-Sydney catchment area. See our online form
