Coronavirus QLD: Brisbane massage parlour fined over lockdown noncompliance

A Brisbane massage parlour has become the first Queensland business to be smacked with a fine for not following strict new rules in the fight against COVID-19.

A Brisbane massage parlour has been issued Queensland’s first fines for failure to comply with public health directives issued under the Chief Health Officer’s most recent rules.

The Lutwyche massage parlour was fined $6672 for failure to comply with the public health direction, while a worker of the unlicensed brothel was also fined $1334 for offering the services against the public health direction.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll speaks to media. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the fines were the first of their kind to be issued by the Queensland Police Service.

“Yesterday afternoon police issued the first penalty infringement notices for breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s directives,” she said.

“This related to a compliance check of licensed and unlicensed brothels that we are carrying out. In this instance, it’s alleged that the massage services were offered in contravention to that directive.”

The fine comes as Commissioner Carroll praised the effort of individuals for largely following health advice.

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“From a Queensland perspective, we’re extraordinary pleased,” Commissioner Carroll said.

“We started doing compliance checks with (Queensland) Health before it became enforceable. In the last few days we’ve done 210 checks and every one of those checks, people were at home. I’ve got to say thank you to the community, people are really doing the right thing.”

However, Commissioner Carroll warned that police, who have so far taken a compassionate and informative approach, will be ready to enforce fines if people were “not complying and really flouting with the rules.”

While conducting compliance checks, detectives from the Major and Organised Crime Squad yesterday charged two women in relation to the offences of knowingly participating in the provision of prostitution services.

A 37-year-old Kedron woman, who is thought to operate the massage parlour-turn-brothel, was also charged with offences in relation to the possession of tainted property.

Her near $7000 fine was in relation to failure to comply with directions under the Public Health Act.

While the second woman, a 25-year-old from East Brisbane, who was fined over $1,300 for also failing to comply with public health directions under the Public Health Act, was also charged with the alleged illegal prostitution.

The two women are due to face court in June, while the business remains closed.