Mr Perrottet’s comments are part of a push for local councils to follow the NSW government’s commitment to reduce the cost of  the most common parking fines by 25 per cent. 

“Councils need to stop using parking fines as an excuse to get a sugar hit and look at ways they can save ratepayers’ money rather than hit them in the hip pocket,” he said. 

Shoalhaven Council’s section manager for building and compliance Colin Wood said the comments were “offensive”. 

“Our parking officers exercise discretion and actively issue verbal cautions to offenders rather than issue a penalty,” he said. 

“The Treasurer’s ‘sugar hit’ comment is considered offensive as it is not the case here in the Shoalhaven.” 

Last year, council received $531,479 in revenue from parking fines alone, and council has no plans of lowering the cost. 

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Your standard fine for parking continuously for longer than permitted or stand vehicle in area longer than allowed will cost you $112 here in the Shoalhaven. 

Reducing these fines by 25 per cent would make them $84. 

But Mr Wood said the current fee “was not excessive” and council would not be reducing it. 

“In the past, it has been found that lowering the fee results in more penalties being issued because it no longer carries the deterrent value,” Mr Wood said. 

“Thus, commercial business’ would suffer as people could park there all day and there it also limits access for people who may need to travel elsewhere.” 

Rather than income generation, Mr Wood said fines were issued to keep people safe. 

“Rather than income generation, Shoalhaven Council’s main focus at the moment is with school zones where we actively meet with the parents and educate them on road safety,” he said. 

“Pick up and drop off zones are important as are pedestrian crossings in and around schools. Those parking dangerously are issued with formal cautions and the message is getting across to parents and carers.”