Limo driver at centre of Covid outbreak did not breach order: police

The limousine driver who was infected with Covid after he transported an international aircrew from Sydney Airport has learnt of his fate.

The limousine driver at the centre of Sydney‘s COVID-19 outbreak has not breached any public health orders, NSW Police has advised.

Senior police asked the Office of General Counsel to review its investigation into the driver – who tested positive to COVID-19 after transporting a FedEx aircrew from the airport to a Mascot hotel – and his employer.

“Yesterday I advised we had sent the case for urgent external legal advice due to the significance of this outbreak and the community concern,” NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.

“I can now confirm we have received advice that there is insufficient evidence to establish that either the limousine driver or his employer breached any public health orders.”

Mick Fuller said the limo driver at the centre of the Covid outbreak did not breach any public health orders. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

The driver aged in his 60s tested positive to the highly infectious Delta variant on June 16.

Confusion then reigned as to whether the man breached any public health orders with Mr Fuller even conceding he had mixed messages about whether there was a breach or not.

It emerged that while there were guidelines for drivers transporting international arrivals, including aircrew, to wear masks, it wasn‘t enforced in public health orders.

That changed on Friday with NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirming the guidelines would become “clear orders with clear consequences”.

Now drivers must wear a mask and have at least one dose of a Covid vaccine if they are taking international arrivals from one place to another.

Compliance with those orders rests with their employers.

Breaching a public health order attracts a maximum penalty of $11,000.

SafeWork NSW is also carrying out its own inquiry into whether the driver breached workplace safety regulations.

With Greater Sydney heading into a two week lockdown at 6pm today, Mr Fuller warned police would be enforcing the restrictions.

“(The Premier) has made it clear – we are dealing with a very dangerous strain of the virus, and this outbreak may represent the biggest challenge the pandemic has thrown at us so far,” he said.

“Police will be enforcing the new public health orders like we have throughout this pandemic.

“While officers will continue to adopt a fair approach and use discretion, the time for cautions is over.”

Police have issued 14 penalty infringement notices for people not wearing masks since the stay-at-home orders came into effect in the Eastern Suburbs and City.

Mr Fuller said highway patrol would also hand out tickets on the outskirts of Greater Sydney for anyone who wasn‘t meant to be there.

“I would like to appeal to the community to continue to work with police, not against us, as we enforce these rules,” he said.

“My ideal situation would be no more PINs to announce tomorrow, because everyone had obeyed the orders and stayed at home. ”