Police Remembrance Day: Don Harwin opposed tribute on Opera House
Arts Minister Don Harwin opposed a proposal to light up the Sydney Opera House sails in blue to honour Police Remembrance Day later this month as tension lingers over his COVID fine.
NSW
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Arts Minister Don Harwin opposed a proposal to light up the Sydney Opera House sails in blue to honour Police Remembrance Day later this month as tension lingers over his COVID fine.
Government sources said Mr Harwin’s office was against the proposal when approached by the NSW Police Association in March to use the sails to mark the day for fallen officers on September 29.
Approval was finally given after pressure was applied when One Nation MP Rod Roberts lodged a notice of motion two weeks ago urging the government to allow the use of the sails as a one-off because coronavirus restrictions ruled out a major event.
“I was aware there was some resistance inside the government to the proposal, so I moved a notice on motion supporting the move,” Mr Roberts said on Wednesday.
“Fortunately, common sense prevailed and we now have the right outcome.”
“Minister Harwin is supportive of lighting the Opera House sails for Police Remembrance Day,” a spokesman for his office said on Wednesday.
The request was passed on to his office in March from the Premier’s and Police Minister’s offices.
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Ten days after Mr Harwin’s office received the Police Association letter, he was forced to resign as Minister when he was fined $1000 for breaching COVID public health orders following The Daily Telegraph’s revelations he had travelled back and forth from his Pearl Beach home on the central coast and Sydney during the lockdown in March.
The fine was dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions and Mr Harwin reinstated to his role as Arts Minister, which has authority over the Opera House, after he contested the matter.
The DPP said there wasn’t enough evidence to prove he left his place of residence without a reasonable excuse.
The decision angered Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, who said he personally reviewed Mr Harwin’s case and others before the fine was issued.
“I reviewed the circumstances of the incident at the time, and I stand by my decision to proceed with a penalty infringement notice,” he said after the fine was dropped.
The Police Association thanked Mr Roberts for his support, which forced the government to act.
“We are very happy the government has agreed to light up the sails of the Sydney Opera House in blue in recognition of this year’s Remembrance Day,” association president Tony King said.
“We also acknowledge the motion made by Rod Roberts … as a reminder of how much importance the police and wider community place on paying honour to those police officers.”
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NSW Police Minister David Elliot said he was more than happy for his department to pay to light up the Opera House sails.
“Commemorating our fallen officers with a gesture on our iconic Sydney Opera House is the least we can do for our police family,’’ he said.
“The men and women in blue always dedicate their lives to serving our communities and it has never been more apparent than in the past year, with police playing crucial roles in our response to the bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We stand alongside families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty and we extend our gratitude to those who choose to serve the community, with honour, as members of the NSW Police Force.”
Neither Mr Elliot nor the police commissioner’s office would comment on Mr Harwin’s role in approving the event.