Premier threatens beachgoers breaching coronavirus ban with tougher lockdown

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has issued a final warning to Queenslanders flouting social distancing, declaring tougher restrictions were coming if reckless beach bums didn’t get off the sand and back into their homes

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has this morning issued a final warning to Queenslanders ignoring social distancing rules, saying they could trigger the start of tougher restrictions.

It comes after The Courier-Mail captured photos of large crowds on the sands of Surfers Paradise.

Many were just sunbaking – not exercising as permitted under strict new coronavirus restrictions – and some were ignoring social distancing rules.

Appearing on the Today Show, Ms Palaszczuk was asked about the scenes at Surfers Paradise and whether further crackdowns would be needed to get the message across.

“I think it’s going to get to that” Ms Palaszczuk agreed

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Big crowds on Surfers Paradise beach on Wednesday. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“Social distancing means 90% of people have to be doing the right thing and going to the beach with all of your friends and your mates is not on.”

The Premier then went on to suggest the same strong actions already being seen in Victoria and New South Wales would be implemented here through the local mayors, including the power to close all local beaches.

“The mayors will not hesitate to see that strong action here.”

“If you’re not doing the right thing, the mayors will shut the beaches and the police will absolutely enforce it.”

“Final warning everyone!” she concluded

The scenes at Surfers Paradise came a day after Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate doubled down on his threat to close beaches.

Many were just sunbaking – not exercising as permitted under strict new coronavirus restrictions – and some were ignoring social distancing rules.

Sunbathers on Surfers Paradise beach on Wednesday

Brazilian students Livia Britto, 24, Amanda Fortunato, 19, and Eduarda Macedo, 24 were side-by-side on the sand at Surfers, technically in breach of the ban on public gatherings.

Ms Britto said she was aware that non-family groups were restricted to two people and that were supposed to stay 1.5m apart.

“I think we’re a little bit reckless, but we all share the same room,” she said.

“I don’t know exactly all the rules. I don’t feel like we’re actually in quarantine.”

Ms Britto said people at greater risk from coronavirus should be taking it more seriously ‘otherwise things could get bad’.

“But we feel safer here in Australia than we would in Brazil, I think,” she said.

Police have begun patrolling Gold Coast beaches to check that people are obeying the new restrictions.

On Tuesday, Mayor Tate warned he would ‘absolutely’ close the beaches if people continued to flout regulations. He urged people to stay home and said if they must go to the beach for exercise, they should observe all restrictions.

Groups of people at the beach at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“(By closing beaches) you’re taking away the essence of the Gold Coast – don’t make me do that,” he implored people.