Covid infected Sydney removalists, who sparked Melbourne lockdown, unlikely to face charges

The trio of Sydney removalists who brought the deadly Delta variant back to Victoria — plunging the state into lockdown — are unlikely to be charged for their actions.

The three Sydney removalists who sparked Victoria’s fifth lockdown are unlikely to face any charges.

The Saturday Herald Sun can reveal that police are set to close the case without the removalists being penalised – except for potentially one fine for not wearing a mask.

Sources said the removalists are not believed to have breached the terms of their permit to deliver furniture from interstate on July 8.

Despite delivering furniture to a Maribyrnong apartment that caused the Victorian Covid outbreak, plunging 6.7 million people into lockdown, the removalists have not been found to have broken any rules, except one — not wearing a mask.

Footage showed the men all without masks and the removalists did not socially distance as they came into close contact with residents of the complex – infecting four people, which then led to the outbreak that spread across the state.

Three NSW removalists at the Ariele Apartments, the cause of the current Covid-19 outbreak in Victoria. Source: 7News

The expected decision to not charge the men comes just days after an Echuca pub owner was fined more than $22,000 for opening his hotel against lockdown rules, and a Herald Sun poll which showed 97 per cent of Victorians wanted the men charged.

It is understood the men complied with the conditions of their special worker permits while in Victoria and that workers who are engaged in strenuous activity are allowed to remove their masks in certain situations.

On July 12 Premier Daniel Andrews said: “For those travelling across the border, the permits are real, the conditions are real. You will be fined, you will be found and you’ve got every chance of becoming very famous if you do not comply with those permit conditions.”

Two days later COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said health authorities will “throw the book” at the three removalists.

David Southwick, the state opposition’s police spokesman, said Victorians expected the men to face the full force of the law.

Publican Trevor Andrews at the Patoral Hotel in Echuca which he defied lockdown restrictions by opening. Picture: Bec Pilgrim,

“For the Andrews Government to come out and say they are going to throw the book at these guys – only to do nothing – is a real slap in the face to everyone doing the right thing,” he said.

“Victorians are all doing it really tough in lockdown and they expect those who did the wrong thing to be punished. To think these people have got away with no consequences is simply not fair.

“How can people be expected to follow the rules when there are inconsistencies and no consequences – it just smells of absolute hypocrisy.”

It comes after the owner of Echuca’s Pastoral Hotel was fined more than $22,000 for openly breaching restrictions.

Owner Trevor Andrews said he had “constitutional rights” that meant he should be able to operate, but Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton yesterday said it was “absolutely within the power” of police to jail the publican.

“He’s been arrested and bailed to court with conditions not to breach the chief health officer directions and not to incite others to do so on social media,” Mr Patton said.

“I’ve imposed the conditions if he reopens again, my officers will arrest him and he will be taken before the court. We’re taking it very seriously.”