Allies of Boris Johnson have been criticised for putting “improper pressure” on the parliamentary committee investigating the Partygate scandal. The House of Commons Privileges Committee came under attack from the former prime minister and his allies earlier this month when it ruled that Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over illegal parties held in Downing Street during…

Victorians are being warned not to ignore $100 million (US$67 million) of COVID-19 fines issued by authorities during the pandemic years. In a state Budget Estimates hearing, Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes revealed that 50,150 fines were issued, but only 5,500 were paid (in full or in part). Another 14,319 fines were unpaid and have passed their…

A report has highlighted the negatives of policing the COVID-19 pandemic through the overuse of fines during the strictest lockdown period in the most populous state in Australia. Led by researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the report (pdf) concludes that in New South Wales in 2021, the large ‘on-the-spot’ fines used…

The New South Wales (NSW) government is returning millions of dollars in fines to thousands of residents breaching COVID-19 restrictions introduced during the Australian state’s lockdown periods. On Nov. 29, Revenue NSW announced that it would revoke 33,121 fines, which is more than half of the total number of COVID-19-related fines issued (62,138), following a…