Police say breach couple to stay in quarantine despite appeal

Police say they are ‘satisfied’ that everything was done correctly when a couple who moved to Queensland from Victoria were forced into hotel quarantine 500km from their new home.

Police say they are ‘satisfied’ that everything was done correctly when a couple who moved to Queensland from Victoria were forced into hotel quarantine 500km from their new home and hit with thousands of dollars in Covid fines.

Robyn Anderson and Robert Legg, aged in their 60s, say they obtained the correct pass to relocate from Victoria to Roma to start a new life just before Queensland closed its border to the southern state last month.

Robert Legg and Robyn Anderson on the balcony of their quarantine hotel in Chermside, Brisbane. Picture: Tertius Pickard

They say they crossed the border at Goondiwindi, hours before the state line closed, and arrived in Roma on July 16.

But four days after moving into their rental property in the southwestern town to self-isolate for 14 days, a police officer knocked on their door to tell them they had breached health directions by filling out their entry pass incorrectly.

They were both issued with $4003 fines and told to immediately drive themselves to hotel quarantine in Brisbane, almost 500km away, despite their Covid test results not having come back.

Ms Anderson said they were escorted out of Roma by the officer after telling him they were concerned their car wouldn’t make it.

It broke down outside Toowoomba, prompting the arrival of “about four carloads” of police. The couple were then ordered to get a taxi to Brisbane where they are now in quarantine at the Quest Hotel Apartments at Chermside. Their test results had since come back negative.

Deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski had asked for a full report on the case.

Speaking at a media conference on Wednesday morning, Mr Gollschewski said he had received a report on the case and was ‘satisfied that police actions are appropriate’.

Deputy commissioner Steve Gollschewski address a Covid-19 media conference in Brisbane. Picture: Brad Fleet

Ms Anderson said she and her husband still planned to appeal the fines, insisting they had not breached the rules.

“We came in on a green zone and we have all the permits to prove it,” she said.

“The police are trying to cover their backsides.”

Ms Anderson said she was looking forward to getting out of hotel quarantine on Thursday ‘and having a good feed of steak, eggs and chips’.

“The food in here is s..t,” she said.

Ms Anderson said the ordeal had sent her husband’s blood pressure “through the roof” and left them with next to no money.

“It’s been just a bungle from start to finish,” she said.

“I’m from Mitchell originally and we wanted to move back to Queensland for the warmer weather because of my arthritis, and to be closer to family. There’s also more work up here for Rob.

“We believe we did everything right but we got slapped with $4000 fines for breaching border orders, we’re now stuck in hotel quarantine and our car is in a holding yard somewhere.

“All our savings are gone and we’ve got rent due on both the Roma and Victorian houses.

“It’s been very stressful. Rob’s blood pressure is through the roof and that’s not good.”

Ms Anderson Legg said Queensland Health had now revoked their hotel quarantine orders but told them to remain at the Quest until 10pm Thursday when they will have to try and get a bus back to Toowoomba to get their car.

Mr Gollschewski said he was aware of the case and had requested a “complete briefing”.