Greens MP Franks fined for tax offences

17 Oct 2012, 4:47 pm   -   Source: AAP
SA Greens MP Tammy Franks has been fined $6600 for failing to lodge tax returns for a decade. (AAP)

SA Greens MP Tammy Franks has been fined $6600 for failing to lodge tax returns for a decade. (AAP)

Greens MP Tammy Franks has apologised to the South Australian public after a court ordered her to pay $14,000 in fines for failing to lodge tax returns.

South Australian Greens MP Tammy Franks has been ordered to pay more than $14,000 in fines and court costs after failing to lodge tax returns for a decade.

Citing the importance of general deterrence, magistrate Simon Smart rejected "an invitation" not to record a conviction against the 44-year-old upper house MP.

"You didn't fail to comply from a desire to avoid payment of taxation but rather because your personal affairs were disorganised," he said in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

She failed to accord the final notice the priority it required, he added.

Earlier this month the magistrate found her guilty of 10 charges of failing to comply with a final notice requiring her to lodge tax returns from 2001 to 2010.

The maximum penalty available was $41,800 but he fined her $6600 and ordered her to pay prosecution and witness costs of more than $7500.

He accepted that Franks was of good character and was committed to various social causes.

The magistrate said he took limited account of the fact that Franks had received considerable public attention in the media following the laying of the charges.

"It is true to say that because of your position, you should have known better," he said.

But he acknowledged she had received "public shaming and embarrassment" due to the publicity.

Outside the court, Franks said she was glad the ordeal was over and told reporters she took sole responsibility for her error and again apologised to the South Australian public and her party.

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