Coronavirus Qld: Two caught in brazen Queensland border jump attempt

Police bodycam has captured a brazen attempt by a Brisbane woman and her companion to enter Queensland despite travelling to coronavirus hot spots in Sydney. CHECK OUT THE FOOTAGE

A Brisbane woman has been fined and her companion arrested by NSW police after a brazen attempt to enter Queensland from coronavirus hot spots in Sydney.

The 25-year-old Brisbane woman was intercepted at a Coolangatta border checkpoint at 4am on Friday.

Despite having Queensland vehicle registration and a valid border declaration pass, she was stopped by police and officers questioned her story that she had not been in any coronavirus hot spots.

She eventually admitted she had spent time in Fairfield and Campbelltown in recent days, while her passenger was arrested after it was discovered there was a warrant out for his arrest in NSW.

He was this morning in custody with Tweed Heads police.

The driver was fined $4004 and denied entry to Queensland after she refused to go into hotel quarantine at her own expense.

Her vehicle has been flagged with police and she faces arrest if she tries to enter the state again in the next week.

Gold Coast Police Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said the intercept should serve as a warning to anyone trying to enter Queensland from banned locations that even having a valid border declaration pass was not enough to avoid police attention.

“This is a perfect example of how random checks can catch people out even if they have a valid border declaration pass,” he said.

Supt Wheeler said the woman probably thought she could slip through the checkpoint in the early hours of the morning because ‘police wouldn’t be being vigilant’.

“Well I can tell you now, the police on those border checkpoints are being eternally vigilant,’ he said.

“Anything they encounter, if they’re suspicious of it, they’ll ask further questions, they’ll ask for proof. If they’re not satisfied with the proof, they’ll turn you around, irrespective of where you say you’ve come from.”

Supt Wheeler warned that there were likely to be increased delays at the checkpoints when the Greater Sydney hotspot declaration officially kicks in at 1am on Saturday.

About 95,000 Gold Coast and northern NSW residents had been sent emails urging them to download the latest border declaration pass in an effort to reduce delays.

“The reality of this is there will be inconveniences and there will be delays,’ Supt Wheeler said.

“This is our new normal, but it’s for a very good reason; we’re trying to stop COVID 19 coming into Queensland.”