Gladys Berejiklian’s coffee run sparks Sydney’s mask rule confusion

A new health order requiring Sydneysiders to mask up “near” cafes has raised confusion after the Premier was spotted on a coffee run maskless with her new boyfriend.

Just hours after a new health order demanding Sydneysiders mask up even “near” a cafe came into effect, Premier Gladys Berejiklian was spotted with her boyfriend maskless while she waited outside their local cafe for him to collect drinks.

Questions about a lack of clarity in the health order over what constitutes “near” have been raised, with Ms Berejiklian standing about 7.93m from the cafe and 9.27m from the coffee machine, but only applying her mask after she spotted a photographer.

Mr Moses was wearing a mask when getting the coffee. It comes as the Premier stared down a deeply divided cabinet to enforce the toughest restrictions of the pandemic, with a serious split emerging over her call to put thousands of builders and tradies out of work by shutting down construction.

Gladys Berejiklian and boyfriend Arthur Moses head out on a coffee run in Sydney. Pictures: Matrix

A spokesman for Ms Berejiklian said she had not broken a health order and that the photographs were taken from “different angles”.

The Daily Telegraph is not claiming the Premier broke the order but that its demand that masks are mandated “near” cafes is confusing and unclear.

“To follow the Premier around in the area where she lives to obtain photos of her with a friend during their private time is one thing which, whilst uncomfortable for the Premier, is regrettably accepted as part of holding public office,” a spokesman said.

“However, it is wrong and unfair to suggest or imply that she has broken a health order based on photos taken at different angles when she clearly has not. Further, the Premier is always mindful of her obligations under the health orders and always seeks to maintain an appropriate social distance outdoors.

“Where that is not possible she always wears a mask.

“We’re all in this together, trying to do our best … to keep each other safe, and should not be creating distractions based on wrong facts.”

Mr Moses and Ms Berejiklian outside the cafe on Sunday.

Ms Berejiklian put on a mask after she was spotted by a photographer.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said masks must now be worn “near” cafes.

The wording of the mask order has caused some confusion to the public.

The wording of the mask order is the latest in a series of health directives that are creating confusion.

It comes after another health order failed to make it mandatory for the limo driver – patient zero in this latest outbreak – to be vaccinated.

The new order, which came into effect at midnight Saturday, mandates that people must wear a mask even when they are “near” a cafe.

“The Minister directs that a person must wear a fitted face covering over both the person’s nose and mouth at all times while the person is … outdoors next to or near food and drink premises or retail premises in Greater Sydney,” it reads.

Waiting for coffee... the Premier and Mr Moses.

The pair was pictured on Saturday and Sunday.

Ms Berejiklian was observed without a mask.

Ms Berejiklian standing away from the cafe while Mr Moses waits for coffee.

It continues with an example: “A person queuing outside a cafe or shop to collect takeaway food or drink or a person walking on a street near shop fronts.”

On both Saturday and Sunday morning, shortly before 7am, Ms Berejiklian and her new boyfriend, lawyer Arthur Moses, attended the cafe for coffee. On each occasion, Ms Berejiklian was observed to hang back without a mask while Mr Moses donned one to collect the coffees.

On Sunday, he removed the mask in front of the cafe before walking off. Standing about 8m from the cafe, the Premier did not consider it necessary to wear a mask, although when she spotted a photographer on Sunday she put one on.

Her trips for coffee also follow repeated calls by the Premier to stay home unless “absolutely necessary”.

The government’s messaging around mask wearing started to harden on Friday before the new public health orders were announced on Saturday. NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant repeatedly stated masks should be worn in situations where you “might” come into contact with another person, such as when waiting for food or coffee. Ms Chant said: “To reinforce it again, if you’re going up to takeaway, even if that’s open out to the outdoors, you need to wear masks because you’re not going to be able to control the movements of an individual, you can come into proximity, there can be crowding.”

Ms Berejiklian herself spoke on Saturday of the push to encourage more mask wearing outdoors.

“No matter where you live in greater metropolitan Sydney, you should have a mask with you,” she said. “Even if you’re just exercising with your household, you might change your mind to pick up a coffee or pick up something or be in an outdoor market, you have to wear a mask in those settings.”

Meanwhile, the ban on construction is costing the economy $700m a week – almost doubling the already $1bn a week hit to the economy caused by the lockdown. Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres and Health Minister Brad Hazzard all spoke out opposing the move to close construction.

Ms Berejiklian said of announcing the stricter rules: “I’m not embarrassed to say that in public life yesterday was probably the most difficult day I’ve had personally because we don’t take these decisions lightly.”