Yesterday the NSW Government announced it will withdraw and refund another 23,000 fines issued during the COVID 19 Pandemic.
Two years ago, the government withdrew around 33,000 fines after Kate Richardson SC argued a test case brought by Redfern Legal Centre in the Supreme Court of NSW (before Yehia J).
Since that time, Kate argued another test case before Fagan J and then, together with Adam Hochroth and Timothy Smartt, advised Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and Redfern Legal Centre on a class action strategy to have the remaining 23,000 COVID fines withdrawn by the NSW Government.
Two weeks ago, Maurice Blackburn notified the NSW Government that it would file a class action if Revenue NSW did not withdraw the remaining COVID fines by last Friday. In response, last Friday, the NSW Government withdrew the remaining 23,000 COVID fines and agreed that all monies paid will be refunded.
The net result of these test cases and advocacy is that every COVID penalty notice that the Government has issued (about 56,000 fines worth $55 million) has now been withdrawn and all monies paid under them will be refunded
