Man blasted for being a ‘fool’ after he was found hiding in the boot of a car at Queensland border
A NSW man who was fined $4003 after being found hiding in the boot of a car at the Queensland border has been blasted as an “idiot”.
National
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A 41-year-old NSW man who was fined $4003 after being found hiding in the boot of a car at the Queensland border has been blasted as an “idiot”.
Queensland Police said they stopped the car at about 6.45pm on Sunday and discovered the man hiding.
Two women, aged 28 and 29, were also in the vehicle at the time. All three people were refused entry to Queensland.
Senator Matt Canavan said it was “so irresponsible” of people to be trying to violate restrictions when so much is at stake as the country tries to curb a potential second wave of coronavirus cases.
“The worst thing is that it ties up our law enforcement agencies having to deal with these fools,” he told the Today show.
The man was hiding in the back of a white Mitsubishi hatchback when he was discovered by police conducting border checks at Wallangarra on Sunday night.
Bodycam footage shows him being removed from the vehicle and escorted away.
Anyone entering Queensland is required to complete a border declaration pass, which is valid for seven days.
Since July 10, 16 people have been fined for failing to comply with the state’s COVID-19 border direction.
Last week, six Victorian travellers were fined $4003 each after trying to cross the Queensland border twice.
Police intercepted a mini-van carrying the group, who ranged in age from 18 to 28, last Saturday night at the M1 checkpoint on the Gold Coast.
They then tried to enter again in Coolangatta the following day, when police allege false declarations were made that they had not been in Victoria in the previous 14 days.
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There has been a major shift in health advice in NSW, where thousands of people who have already tested negative for coronavirus are being asked to self-isolate.
It comes after the state confirmed 13 new cases yesterday, with known clusters growing and several cases of community transmission arising with an unknown origin.
As a result, NSW Health has urged an extra degree of caution. It says anyone at the Crossroads Hotel in Casula or the Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park at specific times, must self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether their test result is negative.
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Previously, it was only those who were awaiting test results or who had tested positive who were asked to do this.
“It is critical that anyone feeling unwell – even with the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat – seeks testing and self-isolates until they get the result,” a statement from NSW Health said.
“Stay at home, and do not go to work or catch public transport until you are cleared of COVID-19. Even if you get a negative test, stay in isolation for 14 days.”
Originally published as Man blasted for being a ‘fool’ after he was found hiding in the boot of a car at Queensland border