Police investigate allegations Lady Pamela travellers ‘non-compliant’ with exemption conditions

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is “disgusted’’ by allegations about the journey of a mogul’s luxury yacht from Victoria to the Gold Coast. Video has now emerged of its controversial voyage. SEE THE VIDEO

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is “disgusted’’ by allegations about Melbourne millionaire and his family’s arrival on a luxury yacht, as police launch a criminal investigation into the voyage.

The Gold Coast’s top cop also said Queenslanders had every right to feel outraged about claims

centring around mogul Mark Simonds’ 40m yacht Lady Pamela.

The yacht arrived at Gold Coast City Marina at Coomera on Monday after a 15-day voyage from Victoria, during which it’s alleged it docked in NSW and breached the border ban.

Last night video emerged from Nine’s A Current Affair showing the boat shortly after its arrival on the Gold Coast.

Hannah Fox and Vallance Simonds on the deck of the luxury superyacht. Picture: Channel 9/ACA

Hannah Fox on board the Lady Pamela. Picture: Channel 9/ACA

Mr Simonds and six other occupants, reportedly family and friends, were tested for coronavirus at the marina and Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young originally granted them an exemption from quarantine.

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However Dr Young revoked the exemptions following community outrage, forcing Mr Simonds, the executive director of the ASX-listed Simonds Group, and the other occupants into hotel quarantine. They are believed to be staying at QT Gold Coast, in Surfers Paradise.

The Lady Pamela docked at Gold Coast City Marina at Coomera. Picture: Gold Coast Bulletin.

Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said: “No one is above the law, no one should feel so entitled they can just break the rules and make their way in.”

No one has been arrested or charged by police.

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“At 9am on August 24 the Lady Pamela arrived at Coomera. It had seven people on board and it’s alleged it travelled from Victoria via NSW. The occupants were given a chief health officer’s exemption on August 20, 2020 to enter Queensland, but that was under strict conditions,” Supt Wheeler said Wednesday.

“ On August 25 the chief health officer revoked the exemption and the occupants were placed into hotel quarantine here on the Gold Coast. So Gold Coast District Police last night attended that marina and took those people into self-funded quarantine.”

Cheryl Simonds is COVID-19 tested.

Mark Simonds is tested aboard. Picture: Channel 9/ACA

Ms Palaszczuk said she was “disgusted” by the allegations.

“I am disgusted about it, and now there is a criminal investigation because it puts the community at risk,” she said.

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Mr Wheeler said since police were posted at the Queensland-NSW border from March 26, officers have regularly seen people trying to flaunt the border blockade “through means that are inappropriate or in some cases unlawful”.

“While I won’t talk about this particular case because it’s under investigation, what I’d say is that people who blatantly breach the chief health officers’ directions in trying to get into Queensland, when they’re detected they’ll be dealt with the full force of the law. There is no excuse,” he said.

“It puts the whole community in danger.”

The superyacht’s occupants and driven by minibus to the QT Gold Coast. Picture: Channel 9/ACA

Supt Wheeler said he understood the community would be frustrated and disappointed “and in some cases probably outraged’’ by people who think they can breach the rules.

“I think it’s fair enough the community is upset and frustrated with this type of alleged behaviour,” he said.

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The yacht reportedly left Melbourne on August 9 with Mr Simonds’ wife Cheryl, their youngest son, and Hannah Fox, daughter of Linfox executive chairman Peter Fox, on-board.

Anyone travelling into Queensland from a declared hot spot by boat can avoid mandatory 14-day quarantine if they have been isolating at sea and can provide a negative test result on their arrival.

Gold Coast City Marina management refused to speak about the Lady Pamela and only said: “It’s none of your business.”