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Using a mobile phone illegally while driving in Queensland will soon become more costly.

This July,however,the value of a penalty unit will increase by 4.3 per cent – beyond the reserve indexation amount in the legislation – in line with the Brisbane CPI figure. Treasurer Cameron Dick had the change gazetted on March 31.

For the most common traffic infringement,driving at up to 13 kilometres over the speed limit,the fine will increase from $183 to $190. For anyonecaught using a mobile phone illegally while driving,the fine will increase from $1033 to $1077,and the extra dollars add up to a budget windfall for the government.

At the same time,indexation for other government fees and charges – including motor vehicle registration – will be capped at 2.5 per cent.

“We know Queenslanders are facing cost pressures at the moment,as the impact of rising petrol and diesel prices ripples through the economy,” Mr Dick said.

“That’s why we’ve decided to hold government indexation,which determines the price of things like vehicle registration fees and the QFES levy,to 2.5 per cent.”

Mr Dick said registration costs would fall in real terms but it was important to still penalise bad drivers.

“We need to ensure people who break the law pay an appropriate penalty,” he said.

“To ensure the real cost of fines does not diminish,from July 1 penalties will rise by the full 4.3 per cent increase in CPI.”

Treasury is already collecting more money in fines and forfeitures. In 2021-22,Treasury expected to collect $595 million,or 39.3 per cent more than the previous year,“partly driven by the introduction of new cameras that detect use of mobile phones and if seat belts are being worn”.

The 4.3 per cent increase in the value of a penalty unit will cost some household budgets more but generate millions of dollars extra for the state budget.

Last month,Mr Dick introduced legislative amendments to make the Queensland Revenue Office in his department “the single agency for issuing and administering infringement notices for the relevant offences,as well as collection of amounts under those infringement notices”.

The reforms are now being examined by a parliamentary committee.

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