Harry’s Clothing Berwick: Harry Hutchinson to fight hefty COVID-19 fine in court
A Berwick retailer fined almost $10,000 for reopening during stage four restrictions has vowed to take his fight to court.
South East
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A Berwick retailer has vowed to fight an almost $10,000 fine in court after he reopened his shop during stage four restrictions.
Harry’s Clothing owner Harry Hutchinson, who was slapped with a $9913 fine for operating in breach of the stage 4 Chief Health Officer directions in October, said he refused to pay the hefty fine saying he was providing an essential service during restrictions.
“It’s my right to run a business and I was providing essential clothing to people who were attending funerals and also for my community who supported me,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“There is a GoFundMe set up for me, which has raised almost $5000 but that is to pay for the legal fees not the fine.
“A solicitor has been appointed and he will be taking on the case at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. There has been no court date confirmed as of yet.”
Mr Hutchinson said he had no regrets reopening his shop during restrictions.
“It was the perfect timing, that was unknown to me … and would I do it again? Absolutely. I was able to keep two people employed here, plus a person who was doing all of my alterations.”
He said he felt had become a “spokesman” for other retailers who had struggled during the pandemic.
“I feel because of this my case will be the first one up when I go to court to be made an example of.”
Mr Hutchinson said the whole experience had been “extremely emotional”.
“The money that people donated to me personally has been given to the Milingimbi community in the Northern Territory,” he said.
“We’re a free society and to see no end date made it difficult. I would 100 per cent do it again and I would be a little bit louder next time.
“I thank the community for their loyal support and that support is still coming through.”
