Just a friendly reminder about the importance of updating your personal address details – it could save you a lot of unintended costs.
Election times are a good reminder to ensure that your address details are up to date with the Australian Electoral Commission and other government agencies like Queensland Transport.
Unfortunately not updating your address is not a valid reason for failing to vote. If you did not vote at the local government elections an “apparent failure to vote” notice will be sent to the address you are enrolled at. If you do not respond to this notice with a valid explanation, you will be issued with an infringement notice.
It is also important to remember that you must update your address on your driving licence within 14 days. Failure to do so is an offence.
Sadly a common problem raised with my office is where people run into strife because they have failed to update their address details so they may not receive important mail like vehicle registration renewal notices, toll charges and infringement notices. As a result these fines are referred to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) with significant additional penalties being incurred.
In some examples, failure to pay a toll fee or infringement notice has resulted in debts of several hundred dollars, simply because the notices were being sent to an old address.
Furthermore, failure to make arrangement to pay the fine within a certain time can have serious implications, including the suspension of your driving licence or immobilisation of your vehicle. As a result of not updating address details some people have unknowingly committed a serious offence by driving with a suspended licence – which can lead to a maximum fine amount or even a prison sentence.
Here are some useful contact information to help you update your address:
Queensland Transport
Phone 13 23 80 or online at https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/update/details/
Australian Electoral Commission
Phone 132326 or online at http://www.aec.gov.au/enrol/change-address.htm
State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER)
Phone 1300 365 635 or online at https://www.sper.qld.gov.au/about-us/change-details-form.php
