Coronavirus Queensland: Three house parties broken up as $200k fines dished out

They were wild, loud and out of control, but most concerning, they were held by people fully aware of Queensland’s tough coronavirus laws. These are the house parties that raged against the COVID-19 lockdown, forcing police to intervene. SEE THE FOOTAGE

FOOTAGE has surfaced from three wild house parties held on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane which police were forced to shut down at the weekend amid tough coronavirus lockdown laws.

Police were forced to break up the parties, with nearly $200,000 in fines issued across the weekend, including $33,000 to attendees at one party which was raided twice.

It has led to police blasting the ‘blatant disregard’ for social distancing rules, which also included large crowds packing Burleigh Hill.

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Police break up several house parties that were breaching COVID-19 restrictions on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. Photo: QPS

The worst offenders were those at an Airbnb party which was raided by police twice in two days, leaving officers in ‘disbelief’ at the ‘completely unacceptable’ behaviour.

Police issued seven men aged 21-25 with $1,334 in fines after a noise complaint at the Fitzwilliam St, Carrara, house on Friday night.

Just after midnight on Sunday, they were called to the same house where they issued another 18 infringement notices, including to five men who had already been fined the previous night.

One of the elaborate house parties held across the weekend despite tough coronavirus laws. Photo: QPS

The Fitzwilliam St house had been hired for a birthday party with more than $33,000 in fines issued for that one party across two days.

Gold Coast Police chief superintendent Mark Wheeler said five occupants of the house copped successive fines.

Police say members of the group admitted to officers they were aware of strict social distancing directives but had still decided to rent the property and hold the party.

In footage from police, a tattooed man approaches police as they shutdown the party saying ‘I’m the birthday boy'.

Attendees at one Gold Coast house party were fined twice for COVID-19 breaches at the weekend. Photo: QPS

In another incident about 9pm Sunday, police responding to a noise complaint witnessed dozens of people fleeing a Maurie Pears Crescent home at Pimpama.

The host of the party, a 28-year-old man, was issued with an infringement notice for failing to comply with the coronavirus guidelines.

The house was lit up with a swirling disco ball which was visible from the street.

Police have blasted those who flouted social distancing directives. Photo: QPS

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it was ‘incredibly disappointing’ and officers were ‘in disbelief’ the party continued for a second night after the first batch of fines.

“We were incredibly disappointed the first time,” she said.

“We can’t have parties, we can’t congregate in large groups.

“To go back a second time we were all in disbelief. It is completely unacceptable.”

People walk along a packed Burleigh Heads foreshore. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

She urged the parents of those young adults who held the party to have a conversation with them ‘for the safety of our community’.

Meanwhile, police were also forced to break up a house party in Banyo in northern Brisbane where 10 people were slapped with fines for partying on a balcony.

And van loads of police had to disperse crowds at popular Burleigh Hill on Sunday night with picnickers packing the grassed lawn which takes in a breathtaking view of the Surfers Paradise skyline.

Commissioner Carroll said 146 COVID-19 fines were issued over the first weekend of eased restrictions – totalling $194,000.

“That really was for blatant disregard for directives,” she said.

“An example of that is one night at an Airbnb on the Gold Coast, we issued seven infringement notices.

“At the same household the next day, 18. At a party in Brisbane, another 10 people were on a balcony.

“This is where there’s blatant disregard of the directives we have been issuing those infringement notices.

A police officer is seen on the beach at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast chatting to beachgoers. (AAP Image/Darren England)

“So disappointingly, those people are really not doing the right thing, but in essence most people are really trying to be compliant this weekend.”

Commissioner Carroll said high visibility police would again target Burleigh today, warning people to avoid busy areas.

“At the moment Burleigh is an example where we have too many people congregating in the one area,” she said.

Beaches were once again packed on the Gold Coast (AAP Image/Darren England)

“We have high visibility police asking those groups to move but we’ve always said if an area is busy can you please move on to somewhere else.

“So today, again, we’ll have a very high presence of policing in that area.”

Commissioner Carroll has called for the easing of COVID-19 restrictions to remain in place pending the good behaviour of Queenslanders.

Ms Carroll said she was “very proud” of most Queenslanders over the weekend.

However she warned blatant disregard for public health directions could jeopardise it for everyone.

“I think we should continue with this, however if we have the blatant disregard, and a lot of it, it will jeopardise what we’re trying to do,” she said.

“ I am very pleased with what’s happened on the weekend but disappointingly Burleigh Heads last night probably ruined what was a spectacular weekend, but we will be working very closely with the council to ensure that doesn’t occur again.”