Six people charged for assaulting police, resisting police, drug possession at Queensland border protest

55 people have been fined a total of $119,000 for not complying with public health orders, and another six will face court after a protest on the NSW-QLD border. But police aren’t stopping there.

Protesters at the New South Wales Queensland border protesting the covid vaccine, the border rules and the New South Wales lockdown on August 22, 2021. Photo: Liana Walker

Six people will face court next month charged for their involvement in protests at the Coolangatta and Tweed Heads border.

A further 55 people have been fined a collective total of $119,000 for not complying with public health orders.

A high-visibility police operation was launched by officers from Tweed/Byron and Richmond Police Districts to prevent, disrupt and respond to any planned mass gathering or protest activity.

During the operation, protesters crossed the border between Queensland at Coolangatta and NSW at Tweed Heads, with nine people arrested and taken to Tweed Heads Police Station.

Six people – aged between 27 and 64 – were charged with various offences, including assault police officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty, hinder police officer in execution of duty, possess prohibited drug, unlawfully participate in outdoor gathering-stay at home area and not comply with Covid direction.

All six were granted conditional bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on September 20.

A 39-year-old man was also arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant, he was refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on Monday.

Officers issued 55 Penalty Infringement Notices for breaches of the Public Health Orders – 32 were issued with $3000 PINs for not comply with Outdoor Public Gathering Direction, and 23 were issued with $1000 PINs for not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19.

Tweed/Byron Police District Commander Superintendent Dave Roptell said officers will not hesitate to strongly enforce the Public Health Orders.

“Our officers are reviewing all available vision to ensure we are able to identify and take appropriate action against those who were in attendance yesterday,” Supt Roptell said.

Protesters at the New South Wales Queensland border protesting the Covid vaccine, the border rules and the New South Wales lockdown on August 22, 2021. Photo: Liana Walker

“The majority of the Far North Coast community have been doing the right thing by following the Stay at Home orders and keeping the community safe. It is extremely frustrating that a minority of people continue to have a blatant disregard for the wider community’s safety and put other people in danger.

“The Public Health Orders are in place to limit movement so we can prevent further spread of COVID-19 – the Delta variant doesn’t follow boundaries or borders, we need to work together to stop the outbreak.

“Our goal is to get out of lockdown, and this sort of mass gathering is not to help us going forward.”

A man riding a horse was heard to encourage protesters to cross the border. Photo: Liana Walker

Detectives are in the process of reviewing CCTV and mobile phone vision and are conducting extensive inquiries to continue to identify and prosecute protest participants.

Anyone with information or vision of Sunday’s protest activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers through the online portal or by contacting 1800 333 000.

Every single report will be investigated.