More than a dozen Victorian carnival operators fined a total of $60,000, kicked out of Qld

More than a dozen travelling carnival workers have been fined a total of $60,000 and ordered out of Queensland after arriving from Victoria.

Victorian carnival operators who entered Queensland with incorrect border passes have not only been ordered to immediately leave but have now been slugged a total of more than $60,000 in fines.

The 16 workers had travelled through Goondiwindi on October 5 with freight declaration passes on their way to a show in north Queensland.

The group was intercepted at Mackay Showgrounds where police deemed they had failed to meet strict conditions attached to the freight declaration pass criteria.

The group had declared they were only travelling into Queensland to deliver the rides to Rockhampton Showgrounds but a police investigation discovered they intended to stay in the state and operate show rides at various Queensland locations.

They all tested negative for coronavirus and were then ordered to leave, police said in a statement.

All of them have been issued a $4,003 fine for failing to comply with the COVID-19 border direction.

Since Saturday, August 8, 128 people have been issued penalty infringement notices for failing to comply with COVID-19 Border Directions and 497 people have been refused entry to Queensland.

A crew of amusement operators have been ordered to leave the state after arriving in the state from Victoria with the wrong border passes. Picture: Supplied

On Thursday, Health Minister Steven Miles said operators were quarantined immediately it was discovered they had entered the state illegally.

“In an emerging matter, police have identified a crew of service support staff who travelled from Victoria in order to assist with a show,” Mr Miles said.

“They had travelled through with trucks carrying large rides. They had applied for freight permits but that was not an appropriate permit for that type of travel.

“They quarantined while they were tested and now they have been asked to return outside of Queensland.”

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles says the workers who had been in Victoria were tested for coronavirus and then ordered to leave the state. Picture: Alix Sweeney

The ride operators are still in Queensland but heading south to NSW to comply with the direction to leave, police said on Friday.

Anyone entering Queensland needs to have a border pass including residents who may have only ventured into the NSW Northern Rivers region which is now part of the permitted travel ‘border bubble’.