Coronavirus: Cardiff massage parlour fined $5000 for breaching public health order
Public tip-offs led Lake Macquarie Police to perform surveillance on a massage parlour, resulting in a fine of $5000 to the owner for breaching a coronavirus public health order.
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A Cardiff massage parlour has become one of the first businesses to be fined $5000 for flouting COVID-19 laws after it allegedly continued to operate despite the lockdowns.
Lake Macquarie police performed surveillance on Asian Remedial Massage after receiving tip-offs from residents that the business was still operating.
After allegedly seeing several people enter the Harrison St premises on Wednesday, officers walked in to find two customers and staff inside.
The owner told police the men were tradesmen but the business was handed the $5000 fine following last week’s announcement that police would have the power to hand out infringements for breaches of public health orders and ministerial directions.
The men were not fined.
The operator, a 57-year-old woman, was spoken to and issued the fine for failing to comply with noticed direction (Section 7/8/9 – COVID-19)’.
Since March 17, police have issued two Court Attendance Notices for Breaching the Public Health Act.
The massage parlour was not issued with a court attendance notcie.
Crime Stoppers has received 3200 reports related to COVID-19 since March 17 and police have conducted more than 3900 compliance checks across NSW.
Additionally, officers have now handed out 30 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for failing to comply with a ministerial direction under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW).
Of these, 27 were issued to individuals, and three to business owners.
A police statement said Commissioner Mick Fuller would “personally review every Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) issued in relation to alleged breaches of Public Health Orders, to ensure the issuing of such infringements is the most appropriate course of action’’.
He would also be reviewing the wider application of this new legislation daily to ensure best practice across the board, the statement said.
Attempts to contact the massage parlour owner have been unsuccessful