Covid breach at Dubbo zoo, police called to deal with Sydney tourists

Police have issued fines to another two tourists from Sydney who visited a Dubbo zoo and travelled through various regional communities during lockdown.

A couple caught visiting a zoo in regional NSW have been fined $1000 each for leaving Sydney during the Covid lockdown.

Deputy NSW Police Commissioner Gary Worboys said the man and woman, both aged 19, left the Greater Sydney region and travelled through towns including Lightning Ridge and Inverell before they were busted at Taronga Western Plains Zoo on Thursday.

Zoo staff reported the pair and police took them to get a Covid test before they were forced to return to Sydney and isolate.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys pictured speaking at a COVID-19 update press conference. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The revelation came after a tour company was issued a $5000 fine for turning up at the same zoo on Monday, with three busloads of tourists arriving from Sydney and carrying more than 120 people.

Deputy Commissioner Worboys said police were “continuing to collect information and statements” in relation to the incident, however it’s understood no individuals who were on the buses have been fined.

EARLIER

More than 100 tourists who had been in Sydney at the height of the latest Covid outbreak have been busted trying to enter a zoo in regional NSW.

The three buses carrying 128 tour company staff members and guests turned up at Taronga Western Plains Zoo about 9.30am Monday.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo.

After zoo staff asked a series of questions as part of their Covid safety protocols, it became apparent members of the group had been in the Greater Sydney region since June 21.

Zoo staff refused to let the tourists off their buses and called police discovered the group left Sydney on Friday, June 25.

Of the 128 people on board the buses, police said 76 were not permitted to leave Greater Sydney.

The NSW Government’s latest Covid Public Health Order requires anyone who has been in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Illawarra and Central Coast regions on or after June 21, to stay at home for 14 days from the time they left Sydney.

Only people with reasonable excuses can leave home and attending a zoo is not one of the permitted reasons to leave.

The boss of the tour company who transported the tourists to Dubbo told police he was aware of the public health order but decided to continue the tour anyway.

Police issued a $5000 fine to the tour company.

Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders MP says the breach is a reminder of the risks posed to people in regional NSW.

Dubbo state Nationals MP Dugald Saunders, who is in isolation in a Sydney hotel after attending an event with COVID patient and government Minister Adam Marshall, said the tour company and tourists actions were inexcusable.

“It’s cruel and unusual behaviour,” he said.

“People are asking me constantly, ‘why do we have to worry about restrictions in regional areas?’.

“It’s because people are still doing the wrong thing.”

Anyone in Sydney who wanted to come to regional NSW would not be welcomed while restrictions were in place, Mr Saunders said.

“I would just encourage anyone who’s thinking of heading to regional areas from Greater Sydney to remember it’s not allowed,” he said.

Dubbo mayor Stephen Lawrence described the breach as “disgraceful”. Picture: Christian Gilles

Dubbo mayor Stephen Lawrence praised zoo and staff and police for their response to the breach.

“I’d like to congratulate the staff at the zoo for implementing all their protocols correctly, it’s good to see the police have quickly responded and imposed fines,” Mr Lawrence said.

“This sort of conduct is quite disgraceful, these are not the sort of visitors we want at this time.”

In total, 34 penalty infringement notices were issued on Monday and of those 16 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.

Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.