World

The South Australian Government Has Increased Speeding Fines By Up To 500%

Published

6 years ago

August 7, 2019

Governments can often change the laws for many reasons, some to help their citizens interest’s and some to help their own interests.

In this article, we’re going to learn about how the South Australian government has increased driving related fines by up to 500% – in order to fill their recent state budget loss of over AUD $500m due to unpaid GST (taxes).

The increase in fines is reported to generate an extra AUD $79m in revenue for the government. Starting from July 1st, 2019.

Here is an infographic that covers the specific fines and how much they’ve increased by:

Source: Scammell.com.au

Corporate companies are hit the hardest, with original speeding fines being $300 AUD and now an astonishing $1,500 AUD – which is a little over $1,010 USD.

Some of the biggest increases are to fines for speeding more than 30 kilometres per hour over the limit, which will increase by 60 per cent.

The speeding fine for traveling at 30–45kph over the limit will increase from $920 to $1,472, while drivers going more than 45kph over will face a fine of $1,658 — up from $1,036.

The state’s Treasurer, Rob Lucas said the Government would also significantly increase the fine for people who were caught speeding in a company car.

So this begs the question – how do the people of the affected state respond and deal with these matters? Especially when they’re struggling financially, as paying any fine within itself is frustrating – especially when the fees have soared by up to 500%.

So although the SA government is making an attempt to recover their recent financial losses, they are still over $400m short – it will be interesting to see how they will recover the funds.

As with all matters, it’s important to also see the other side of the coin – in this case, it’s the opposing government. We will see what they have had to say about this –

The former Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the Liberal Party (current state Government) had broken its 2018 election promise to lower costs.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a motorist, a public transport user, a tradie or a hospital worker, no South Australian is safe from this massive hike in fees and charges,” Mr Mullighan said.

“This is an attack on households, an attack on businesses and an attack on South Australians who are just trying to manage their cost of living at a time of low inflation and low growth in their wages.”

South Australian Council of Social Service CEO, Ross Womersley said people on low incomes would be the hardest hit.

It’s a strong reminder to take caution on the roads and put your phone away, the fines will keep on increasing and it’s not going to be great when we’re faced with an exorbitant fine to pay.

World

Empowering Minority Women to Pursue Leadership in Business and Law

Published

2 weeks ago

June 3, 2025

Jenny Jackson

There is a familiar saying that a “rising tide lifts all boats,” and there are professionals among us who truly take that concept to heart. Attorney Leah Wise is one of them. From an early age, Wise knew that whatever she wanted to do in life as a career, helping people had to be a primary motivation.

On her way up as founder of the first Latina-owned law firm in South Texas dedicated 100% to personal injury law, Wise acknowledges that she stood on the shoulders of some great mentors. Now, she is paying it forward through a series of initiatives and programs dedicated to helping minority women pursue their dreams.

A love for law and justice

While working for a state senator prior to law school, Wise developed a deep love for making a difference in people’s lives. “I learned that one person can truly have an impact on the world,” she recalls. This lesson led her to pursue law as a career, and she soon found herself in the position of a trailblazer as a woman and a Latina.

Unlike most young upstart lawyers who battle it out for positions at established firms after law school, Wise knew she wanted to set out on her own immediately. She started her own personal injury firm right out of law school and got to work making a name for herself in the Texas law community, an act of rebellion that flew in the face of norms within the law field and stood as a testament to the Wise’s resilience. It’s an approach Wise hopes to help other minority women embrace — go after what you want, no matter what stands in your way.

Giving back

Wise has not stopped wanting to help others since the days of working in the senator’s office. She has made a point to make philanthropy a significant part of her brand, focusing on building the confidence and careers of minority women, especially Latinas.

Wise created a non-profit organization called the Wise Women Foundation to address all of the ways she wanted to empower and inspire women seeking careers, especially those looking to make their mark in male-centered fields like Wise. The Wise Women Foundation helps empower minority women through education, mentorships, and resources that can often be scarce in minority communities.

“The foundation is about offering women options,” says Wise. Through the various resources provided by the Wise Women Foundation, women can better reach their full potential and overcome obstacles that are often placed in the way of minority women.

Part of Wise’s main focus through the Wise Women Foundation is helping women start their own businesses — as she did — especially within the legal industry. A serial entrepreneur herself, Wise knows the value of steering one’s own ship.

Wise has other beneficial initiatives as well, including the Leah Wise Latina Student Hardship Fund at her alma mater, St. Mary’s University School of Law, which offers $50,000 to the law school to aid Latina law students. She also hosts a CrashGal Mentorship Group for aspiring Latina lawyers and has raised funds for Teach for America, the Family Crisis Center of the Rio Grande Valley, and toward distributing tampons and pads in low-income schools in the Rio Grande Valley.

Using social connection to inspire others

Since starting her law firm, Wise has known the value of social media. As one of Texas’s first personal injury lawyers to truly take advantage of social media marketing, she knows how powerful social connections can be. As the co-founder of the social media segment “Latina Feature Friday” and the host of “Coffee With CrashGal,” Wise highlights minority-owned businesses and gives advice in a relatable and authentic way.

“The business world is so competitive,” Wise shares. “Everything I do is in an attempt to lift people up and encourage them.”

Changing the business landscape

Through every philanthropic project Wise takes on, Wise is helping change the business landscape for minority women. She has shown the value of being a multifaceted entrepreneur not only through her philanthropic works and her law firm but also through her other ventures, such as CrashGal Couture and her real estate business.

Recently, Wise purchased a building to house her empire — and made a statement about the strength and resilience of women in the process. The building was a former strip club, and Wise is dedicated to turning it into a safe space for building dreams, serving clients who are going through difficult moments, and empowering minority women in business.

Wise knows that with a helping hand, minority women can do extraordinary things — in business and in life. Whether it’s helping her clients get justice during a personal injury case or helping disadvantaged college students access money toward a law degree, Wise is making an indelible mark on her community.