Penny* was referred to our Centre by Sheriff's Operations because she had several outstanding fines and warrants and she had been served with 7-day Notice by the Sheriff. While we were discussing under what ground we could apply for a revocation of her fines and warrants, Penny opened up about her history of family violence. Penny is a young mother of 3 children and the father is very violent. The Police took several Family Violence Intervention Orders on behalf of Penny against her former boyfriend over the years. However he has breached every single one of them. As a result, the Police recommended that she moves often to make it harder for her ex-boyfriend to locate them.
When Penny came to our Centre, she had been moving with her 3 children from houses to friends’ couches to her parent’s place to motels for about 5 years. Consequently, when the Police or the Infringement Court would send her a fine or a notice, they would never reach her before she had to move again.
We applied for a revocation under special circumstances for homelessness. The application was successful and her fines and warrants were revoked by the Infringement Registrar. However, when the application was sent to the enforcement agency, Victoria Police in this case, they refused it and they listed the matter at the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court. We decided to make an exception and represent her at Court.
We are happy to report that we were successful and the Magistrate revoked all her fines and warrants. Penny was very grateful for our assistance as it definitely lifted a weight off her shoulders.