The fine amount for an offence under Queensland State legislation and the laws of local governments is identified as a penalty unit. Queensland's Penalties and Sentences Regulation 2015 defines the dollar value of a penalty unit. This is subject to a yearly review by the State Treasurer.
As of 1 July 2018, the value of a penalty unit is $130.55
The Penalties and Sentences Regulation also defines how to calculate the fine amount. The number of penalty units attributed to the offence is multiplied by the value of a penalty unit. The final amount is then rounded down to the nearest whole dollar.
For example:
- a fine of 1 penalty unit is $130 (rounded down from $130.55)
- a fine of 2 penalty units is $261 (rounded down from $261.10).
| Number of Penalty Units | Fine Amount |
|---|---|
| 1 penalty unit | $130.00 |
| 2 penalty units | $261.00 |
| 4 penalty units | $522.00 |
| 5 penalty units | $652.00 |
| 10 penalty units | $1305.00 |
| 20 penalty units | $2611.00 |
| 30 penalty units | $3916.00 |
| 40 penalty units | $5222.00 |
| 50 penalty units | $6527.00 |
| 75 penalty units | $9791.00 |
Some councils choose not to increase the penalty unit value for fines related to their local laws and it remains at $75. These councils are listed in Schedule 2 of the Penalties and Sentences Regulation.