Brendan Gibb faces Tweed court after protesting outside MP Justine Elliot’s office during Covid pandemic

A Tweed dad has faced court charged over a contentious Covid protest. Here’s how the magistrate dealt with the situation.

Police patrolling the NSW-Qld border during the pandemic. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Scott Powick

A Banora Point man has faced court after protesting against Covid public health orders.

Brendan Gibb, 33, faced Tweed Heads Local Court more than a year after he breached stay-at-home orders in place across New South Wales on August 31 last year.

Mr Gibb told the court on November 4 this year he did not think he did anything wrong by taking part in the coronavirus pandemic protest.

A protest at Tweed and Coolangatta during the pandemic. Picture: Media Mode

“I didn’t hurt anyone,” he said.

“I was the only one who received a fine.”

Court documents state Tweed/Byron Police sighted Gibb outside federal Labor MP Justine Elliot’s office on Minjungbal Dr in Tweed Heads South.

Gibb was part of a gathering of about 30 people airing their negative opinions of the Covid-19 public health orders at the time.

The gathering occurred amid a raft of Covid-19 orders protests in Tweed and across the North Coast.

Police spoke with Gibb, who said he was outside Ms Elliot’s office to protest the “ridiculous” public health orders.

The twin towns of Tweed in NSW and Coolangatta in Queensland were greatly impacted by Covid public health measures, including border closures. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Magistrate Annette Sinclair cautioned Gibb, who appeared without a lawyer on side.

“It was a public health order, it was there as a means of protection for the community, and you didn’t play your part,” Ms Sinclair said.

Gibb replied: “It was in my right to ask police questions.”

But Ms Sinclair said Gibb did not have the “right to be there.”

Magistrate Sinclair fined Gibb $800.

No conviction was recorded.