Triple M’s Lawrence Mooney cops $1K Covid fine for Byron break

Triple M breakfast host Lawrence Mooney was forced to apologise for his ‘stuff-up’ breaching Sydney’s lockdown – but newly surfaced audio shows he should have known better.

Triple M breakfast host Lawrence Mooney has copped a $1000 fine for breaching NSW lockdown orders.

The comedian spent nearly two weeks holidaying in Byron Bay despite having been working in Sydney in the period that required people to stay at home due to the latest Covid outbreak.

NSW Police advised that officers from Southern Highlands Police District spoke to Mooney at his Burradoo home on Friday and found that he travelled to Byron Bay on Friday, July 2.

“The man has been issued with a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) for breaching the stay at home direction,” a police statement read.

The news comes after further questions were raised about Mooney’s knowledge of NSW lockdown orders.

In his apology on Thursday, Mooney told The Daily Telegraph he didn’t realise the restrictions applied to him as he worked in the Sydney CBD but lives in the NSW Southern Highlands.

But audio from Mooney’s played on his Moonman in the Morning radio show on Thursday, June 24 shows he should have been aware that the restrictions applied to him.

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO IN THE VIDEO PLAYER

Lawrence Mooney in Byron Bay. Picture: Instagram

“There’s a whole lot of government areas that have been deemed red zones in Sydney … if you live or work in those areas, you can’t leave those areas unless you are an essential worker that enters one of those areas, then you can leave that area in order to go home,” Mooney said on air.

“You have got to stay put. Gladys Berejiklian, our fearless Premier, said that she works in the City of Sydney obviously but she doesn’t live in one of those LGAs (local government areas).”

2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham played the audio on his radio show.

On Thursday, Mooney said that it was when The Daily Telegraph contacted him that he realised he had breached restrictions.

Confidential had noted several images posted to social media of Mooney’s travels, including a spot of horse riding and a catch-up with fellow comedian Jimeoin at the Hotel Brunswick.

“I know how serious this is and the impact lockdowns are having across the state and am

very embarrassed by my misunderstanding and stuff up,” Mooney told Confidential.

Lawrence Mooney and Jimeoin at the Hotel Brunswick. Instagram

Lawrence Mooney in Byron Bay. Instagram

“I feel like an absolute goose for not realising I wasn’t permitted to travel to Byron Bay during my break.”

He said he had a Covid test before departing for Byron Bay.

“I now understand this is not correct and that I’ve made an honest mistake. I’ve immediately cancelled all plans for the rest of the week and have packed up and am returning home by car, where I will again take a Covid test on arrival.”

Mooney’s breach comes a few weeks after he appeared on the Today Extra morning program claiming he wasn’t vaccinated because he “didn’t want to die” from the AstraZeneca jab.

In March 2020, Mooney ripped into a Bondi holistic healer for claiming reiki, crystals and essential oils prevented coronavirus.

“It probably works too cos as soon as somebody starts speaking about crystals or essential oils, you can guarantee that no one is coming within two metres of them,” he joked. “I mean seriously, this is great stuff when the wizards and the warlocks and the white witches come out with their cures. You would probably be more likely to cure coronavirus with crystal meth rather than crystals or essential oils. It kills the body first. It is like chemo.”