Mark Wotton granted bail

A North Queensland man accused of breaking strict biosecurity laws by travelling to Palm Island has been granted bail.

Townsville Water Police arrest four men who allegedly broke strict biosecurity laws by going to Palm Island. Picture: Alix Sweeney

A North Queensland man accused of breaking strict biosecurity laws by travelling to Palm Island has been granted bail.

Mark Wotton alongside four other men aged between 19 and 46, are charged with breaching the Biosecurity Act and Chief Health Officer Queensland Direction, after they allegedly drove a boat back to the island from Townsville.

Four of the men arrived in Townsville from Palm Island on the Brett Irwin Water Police boat just after 7pm on Friday, and were marched off one by one by police while wearing face masks.

The Townsville Magistrates Court heard Wotton was tested for the coronavirus, but had returned a negative result.

Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton granted bail to Wotton today, on the condition he remain inside his Deeragun home at all times.

“The offending at this point can be described as brazen, in terms of the defendant knowingly taking his boat with two passengers back to Palm Island,” Mr Luxton said.

“The determination was put in place for the protection of the Palm Island community which is particularly vulnerable should COVID-19 enter into that community.”

The court heard Wotton has no prior criminal history, and faces a maximum jail term of five years.

The matter will next return to court in July.

Originally published as Mark Wotton granted bail