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 2020, the value of a penalty unit is $133.45
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 $133 (rounded down from $133.45)
- a fine of 2 penalty units is $266 (rounded down from $266.90).
| Number of Penalty Units | Fine Amount |
|---|---|
| 1 penalty unit | $133.00 |
| 2 penalty units | $266.00 |
| 4 penalty units | $533.00 |
| 5 penalty units | $667.00 |
| 10 penalty units | $1,334.00 |
| 20 penalty units | $2,669.00 |
| 30 penalty units | $4,003.00 |
| 40 penalty units | $5,338.00 |
| 50 penalty units | $6,672.00 |
| 75 penalty units | $10,008.00 |
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.