Thousands in fines handed out for those not complying with Covid lockdown restrictions

A man is angry after police ordered his family off a beach in front of their Gold Coast home while more than $7000 in fines have been handed out to separate people for not complying with Covid lockdown restrictions.

A Gold Coast man is ‘p----ed off’ after he and his pregnant wife were ordered off the beach in front of their home by police as they watched their kids surf.

Dan Patch said the order happened Tuesday morning as Coast police in ATVs ramped up Covid patrols to ensure people were only leaving their homes for legitimate reasons during Southeast Queensland’s fourth coronavirus lockdown this year.

Mr Patch said he and his wife were on the beach in front of Palm Beach home about 7.30am, watching their children aged 13, 9 and 8 surf, when officers arrived.

A Gold Coast man and his wife were on the beach in front of Palm Beach home about 7.30am, watching their children aged 13, 9 and 8 surf (not pictured), when police told them to move along because of the Covid lockdown. Picture: Supplied

“I was just sitting on the beach with my pregnant wife watching my kids surf and police come along and tell us to move on,’ he posted on Facebook.

“It’s our backyard, I’m really p---ed off now! If you think this is normal, you have rocks in your head.

“This is not normal, freedom just went out the door and most of you seem happy about it.”
Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman from Gold Coast Police said he understood parents sometimes needed to supervise children in their exercise pursuits, but other options might be more suitable during the lockdown.

Gold Coast police on patrol during the lockdown. Picture: Supplied

“Rethink what particular activities you could be doing at this point in time,” he said.

“I understand that kids need to exercise the same as everybody else, but if you need to keep an eye on them while they’re doing it maybe pick an activity that might be more suitable.”

He repeated earlier directives that sitting or standing on the beach was not a valid reason to be outside your homes during the lockdown.

It came as police announced they were planning to launch RBT-style intercepts to ensure people were leaving their homes for the ‘right reasons’.

The state’s top Covid cop, Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski, unveiled the new strategy as he revealed that police had arrested a record 21 people and issued 70 penalty infringement notices on Monday to people breaking lockdown rules.

They included 15 people arrested during an illegal anti-lockdown protest in Brisbane.

A Gold Coast tattoo parlour owner (not related to this image) has fined more than $6000 for refusing to comply with southeast Queensland’s coronavirus lockdown. Picture: Supplied

Mr Gollshewski said while the vast majority were taking the latest outbreak seriously, there was still a portion of the community ‘who think they can continue to do whatever they like’.

Among them were a Gold Coast tattoo parlour owner who was fined more than $6000 for refusing to comply with the week long- restrictions.

Police visited the Helensvale tattoo shop after reports the business was defying the lockdown by continuing to trade.

Despite a caution from officers the owner refused to shut up shop and was instead issued with a $6982 fine.

In a separate case, Biggera Waters man has been fined $1378 after hosting a gathering of four people – a breach of the current restrictions.

Investigations are continuing into the other people present at the gathering.