Canberra Raiders supporters have been slapped with a staggering 'success tax', shelling out more than $230,000 in parking fines during a triumphant season for their team. An exclusive data analysis reveals the direct financial impact on fans celebrating the Green Machine's on-field achievements.
The High Cost of Fandom in Bruce
Data journalism from The Canberra Times has uncovered that parking infringements issued in the suburb of Bruce, home to Canberra Stadium, reached a four-year peak of $231,000 in the 2025 season. This surge coincided with the Raiders claiming the minor premiership and hosting two coveted home semi-finals, drawing larger crowds to the precinct.
The figures present a curious pattern when compared to recent seasons. In both 2022 and 2023, when the Raiders narrowly made the finals in eighth place and played their finals matches interstate, fines remained elevated at $195,000 and $188,000 respectively. Conversely, the 2024 season saw a dramatic reprieve for fans. Despite the team finishing ninth and average crowds being higher, the total parking fine revenue in Bruce plummeted to just under $64,000, suggesting a potential change in enforcement focus that year.
ACT-Wide Crackdown: Suburban Hotspots Emerge
While Raiders fans felt the pinch, they were not alone. Across the Australian Capital Territory, specific suburban centres experienced dramatic increases in parking enforcement, indicating a possible targeted approach by inspectors.
In the bustling northern hub of Gungahlin, fines paid more than doubled, skyrocketing from $103,000 in 2022 to $206,000 in 2024. A similar trend was recorded in Dickson, where infringement revenue jumped by an astonishing 109 per cent, from $53,000 to $111,000 over the same two-year period. This surge may point to changes in parking zone regulations or a concerted effort to manage congestion in these rapidly growing areas.
City Centre and Seasonal Risks for Drivers
Canberra's city centre remains the perennial leader for parking penalties. During the last holiday period from December 20, 2024, to January 4, 2025, about $70,000 in fines were collected in the city, maintaining its top spot despite a 35% drop from the previous year. The inner-north suburb of Braddon and the Woden Valley business centre of Phillip are also consistent high-risk zones for drivers.
Phillip has consistently held the position of the second-highest suburb for fines, with its neighbour Garran also regularly appearing in the top five since 2022. Territory-wide, the ACT government has issued more than $3.8 million in parking fines from approximately 60,000 infringements so far in 2025 (as of December 14), following years where collections exceeded $4 million.
The data also reveals a clear seasonal trend: November has been the peak month for both the number of fines issued and the total revenue collected every year since 2022. Canberrans are advised to exercise extra caution and check signage during this period and when parking around major event venues like Canberra Stadium.
