A MAN who contested the seat of Northern Victoria at the 2022 Victorian elections has been ordered to repay $10,000 in accumulated fines including for failing to vote.
The Mildura Magistrates’ Court heard Henk Wallenborn, who attracted just 0.03 per cent of first preference votes for the Freedom Party of Victoria, faced 55 days’ imprisonment in default of his payment obligations.
Wallenborn told the court the fine for failing to vote was historical and he didn’t realise there was an election on before later deciding to run for State Parliament.
The accused man successfully applied, through his defence counsel, to discharge half of the $20,000 of fines from a range of offences when he appeared before Magistrate Patrick Southey on Monday.
Mr Southey said it was “interesting” that since being fined for failing to vote that Wallenborn had become more engaged in politics to the point of running for parliament.
“I admire that attitude, people who just whinge and sit back … you have got to step up,” Mr Southey said.
“Democracy is only as good as the people who are committed to roll up their sleeves.
“You have been in some trouble over the years, but that’s the least of it.”
Wallenborn agreed to pay $50 a week or in default 55 days in jail.
“It’s a huge amount of money … it’ll take a long while,” the Magistrate noted.
“Like the election, you don’t want to forget about it,” he said.
“You have got to pay these fines, if you don’t there’s imprisonment.”
