Victorians to be fined if caught visiting their mums on Mother’s day
Despite desperate calls to ease lockdown restrictions, Premier Daniel Andrews says Victorians must stay home and not visit their mums or families on Mother’s Day. Here’s what will happen if you’re caught making a non-essential visit or dropping off a gift.
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Victorians who break isolation orders to visit their mum on Mother’s Day face hefty fines.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said that while officers were showing discretion when dishing out $1652 fines, Victorians should stay at home.
The state has the nation’s toughest restrictions with non-essential visits to other households banned.
“I think that discretion has been growing over the weeks,” Mr Ashton said.
“We understand it’s frustrating, but we certainly ask that people just remember the results that are being achieved.”
Mr Ashton added: “We want people to see Mum, we want people to go out and go to events – but not at the moment.”
He also said people could still go to another person’s home if it was to provide care, including medication deliveries, but they should not drop off gifts.
“That’s not really what we are looking for this Sunday,” he said.
“If you are going to your mother’s place to take medication as you have been doing over the last several weeks (that’s allowed) … but baking a cake with a file in it and saying ‘you can escape now’ no, that’s not.”
Police Minister Lisa Neville said officers would be out across the state to ensure Victorians abided by restrictions on Mother’s Day, as well as shutting down a planned protest.
“My message for Sunday is stay home,” she said.
“If you live with your mum tell her you love her and make her breakfast and if you don’t, ring your mum and talk to her on Skype and tell her you love her.
“When restrictions ease, lets plan to all catch-up. But police will be out. We don’t want to see people risk the gains we made.”
Queensland relaxed its restrictions after keeping the number of new coronavirus cases low, allowing up to five people can visit other households in time for Mother’s Day.
But the state’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said hugs were still out of the question.
“When you go and visit, because we all want to keep our mums safe … it’s a good idea to just delay those hugs until we get all through this,” she said.
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