The owners of overgrown and unkempt properties or lots are to be charged a penalty which will be added to their land tax bill along with the cost of any clean-up by the state.

This will be under proposed new laws under consideration.

This has been disclosed by Attorney General Dale Marshall, who tabled in the House of Assembly today amendments to the Health Services Act.

He noted that that the previous act passed in 1969 allowed for owners of such properties to be hauled before the courts, but he believes this is an outdated method that unnecessarily criminalized people.

Such offences are now being decriminalized and instead property owners will be assessed a penalty with a daily fee added for non-payment.

Attorney General Dale Marshall

But Opposition leader, Ralph Thorne, challenges government on the legality of adding such a penalty to land tax bills.

Opposition leader, Ralph Thorne

The bill next goes before parliament’s select standing committee on the social sector and the environment for further consideration, with the committee to report back within three months.