Police step in after Straddie angst over Wilds film crew’s mask exemption

A second film crew in Queensland has sparked anger after being given exemption to continue making movies in public without wearing masks.

Amazon Prime Video TV series The Wilds filmed its second season on Straddie.

A second film crew in Queensland has sparked local anger after being given exemption to continue making movies in public without wearing masks.

North Stradbroke Island police vetted and allowed the film crew from Amazon Prime series The Wilds to keep making their movie at Point Lookout despite complaints from residents they were not wearing masks.

Filming of the series relocated to Queensland with crews sent to Straddie twice, including this month, for the second series.

Residents lodged complaints with police on Monday after spotting cast and crew and near Deadman’s Beach not wearing masks after police reprimanded locals for not wearing masks.

Straddie has a large indigenous population and island elders have been cautious about Covid.

It is the second film crew that was investigated for alleged Covid breaches this week after those on set of the Netflix movie True Spirit, starring Teagan Croft, were vetted by police on Tuesday.

Complaints were also lodged about cast and crew not wearing masks on the barge to Straddie.

More than 30 film staff for the series have been on the island over the past month.

Complaints started after the lockdown on Friday when the crew cordoned off their work areas forcing residents to walk around sets to the beach.

But Stradbroke Island senior constable Dave Bourke said he checked on crews and found they were abiding by all Covid rules.

The beach near where The Wilds was being filmed this week.

“Police have sighted their exemption from the Chief Health Officer allowing them to continue filming during the current restrictions,” he said.

“Their workplace also has an approved Covid safe plan.

“All staff and crew were tested prior to coming over and are tested on a regular basis.”

It is believed the film crews and cast will be on the island until Friday and it was the last filming on the island for The Wilds.

Senior constable Bourke warned “frustrated” residents not to target the film crews as they were acting lawfully and adhering to the conditions of their exemption.

He said police would not tolerate abuse targeting anyone on the island, which is usually a popular tourist haven, and he called for everyone to wear masks when in public.

Residents were also warned they could only leave their homes for an essential purpose and recreational fishermen have been turned around from the ferry when arriving at Dunwich.

Filming for the series started in Queensland in April with federal government funding some of the venture.

Ferry and barge trips are also off limits for island residents unless the journey, which is more than 10km, is deemed as for an essential service.