Controversial reason kids are copping mask fines

Hundreds of young children in Victoria have been fined for not wearing a mask under a controversial rule that’s been blasted as “overly punitive”.

Almost one Victorian child a week has been slapped with a fine of up to $80 by police for not wearing a mask in public, the Herald Sun can reveal.

A total of 260 fines have been issued to children, including 29 given to those between the ages of ten and 14, in the 12 months to June this year, authorities stated.

The little-known mask fines mean children aged 10 to 14 had to pay $40 and those between 15 and 18 had to pay $80.

These fines were issued by police in public places including streets, footpaths and train stations when outdoor masks were mandatory.

There have been 260 mask fines issued to children in Victoria.

Under current guidelines, face mask must be worn by those over 12 indoors – except at home – and on public transport unless a lawful exception applies.

A police spokeswoman said police “seek to educate and provide guidance in the first instance”.

“Wherever possible, police will issue a warning or caution to a child rather than a fine. If a breach of the chief health officer directions is blatant, obvious and deliberate, and the young person is ineligible for a caution, a penalty notice may be appropriate,” she said.

Liana Buchanan, Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People, said she was “extremely concerned at the prospect of marginalised children receiving fines when we know that will have little effect and simply risks drawing them into the criminal justice system when they cannot pay”.

She said she “hoped Victoria Police’s first approach to children failing to comply with Covid-requirements would involve “education and guidance”.

Melbourne psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said disadvantaged children would be most impacted by this “overly punitive rule”.

The mask fines for kids have been criticised as “overly punitive”. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Katherine Ellis, CEO of the Youth Affairs Council Victoria, said she would “rather see Victoria Police handing out masks and compassion to young people, than handing out punishments.”

It comes as monitoring the mask-wearing of students continues to be a highly contentious issue in schools, especially for teachers concerned about their own safety.

Schoolchildren are being sent home, given detentions and sent out of class for not wearing masks. At some schools, children are sent to “time out” or excluded until their parents pick them up for repeatedly not wearing masks.

A principal of more than 20 years said it had been “extremely difficult” to force children to wear masks.

“It’s only a small number of students who are experiencing discomfort but it has been difficult to enforce,” he said.

Victorian Principals Association president Andrew Dalgleish said schools were taking a supportive approach by offering to provide masks where possible.

A Department of Education spokesman said face masks will be in place in schools “until we have certainty from the Commonwealth about vaccination of all school-aged children”.

“Any consequences would only occur after discussions with a student and their parents or carers if the mask requirement is deliberately and persistently flouted,” he said.

Face masks are required for all students in grade 3 and above when indoors and on public transport, and strongly recommended for prep to Grade 2 students.