Melbourne lockdown: Group cops massive fine for gathering in city’s east
A small social gathering has cost a group of Melburnians plenty after they were busted together at a home in the city’s east.
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A group of Melburnians who tried to hide from police after being busted at an indoor gathering are among the latest residents to be slapped with fines for breaching the state’s strict public health orders.
Police swooped on the gathering in the city’s Whitehorse area where none of the attendees were wearing a mask.
Officers said two women tried to hide in a walk-in wardrobe, while a man hid under a table in the bathroom.
Nine fines were issued in total, costing the group up to $15,000.
The group was among 62 Victorians who breached restrictions, including 15 people who failed to wear a mask outside the home. Another 14 fines involved vehicles stopped at various checkpoints across the state.
In another breach, a man was arrested after fleeing from an allegedly stolen vehicle at Point Cook. Police said he was not wearing a mask and was more than 5km from his home.
Authorities in Victoria conducted 1481 spot checks across public spaces, homes and businesses during the last 24 hours.
Melburnians are still banned from having people over to their home unless they live alone or need care – they may nominate one person to be part of their “bubble”.
Up to five people (from two households) can gather outdoors.
Once Melbourne moves to the third step of the road map to recovery, up to five visitors will be allowed into a person’s home, but they must be from one household.
Originally published as Melbourne lockdown: Group cops massive fine for gathering in city’s east