NSW Police investigating after Tony Abbott photographed maskless in Sydney

NSW Police have confirmed they are investigating an eyewitness report that former Tony Abbott was spotted maskless in Manly this morning.

NSW Police have confirmed they are investigating an eyewitness report that former Prime Minister Tony Abbott was spotted maskless in Manly this morning.

Mr Abbott maintains he was not in breach of the rules because he had originally attended the beach to go surfing and catch some “magic waves” which he noted “ is exercise”.

But the woman who photographed Mr Abbott has confirmed to news.com.au that she has now been contacted by police.

Mr Abbott has not been fined or charged with any wrongdoing.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity she confirmed she would make a statement to police.

“Nothing says mockdown more than an ex-PM flaunting around without a mask,” she told news.com.au

“It’s OK for him, but what about everyone else who has been fined by the police? What about all the kids that can’t be vaccinated?

“When the Premier says ‘people should use their judgement’, this shows that even a former leader of this country can’t even be trusted to use his judgement.”

Tony Abbott spotted maskless in Manly. Picture: Supplied

Mr Abbott was photographed this morning chatting to a friend at Fairy Bower Beach on the Manly foreshore.

He was then overheard apologising to his friend as he realised his error.

“S**t I don’t have my mask,” the former PM was overheard saying.

The group went on to joke about Mr Abbott’s globetrotting overseas travels which have recently included a trip to India as a trade envoy for Australia.

After his friend joked he was surprised Mr Abbott had been let back in the country, the former PM replied, “I’ve got a passport mate, they had to let me into the country.”

Mr Abbott (not pictured) caught some ‘magic waves’. Picture: David Swift

While some Sydneysiders don’t wear a mask when exercising, Mr Abbott was photographed in jeans and a jumper chatting with the friend.

But Mr Abbott told news.com.au that he believed he was completely within the rules even under the current “oppressive regime”.

“I went out for a surf on the beautiful Bower. Caught a couple of magic waves,” he said.

“And yeah, it’s a perfect day in Sydney. Just a pity we’re all bloody suffering lockdown conditions.

“Apart from that, it’s as good as it can be.

“Look, I regard myself as having been at all times within the rules. I was surfing. That’s exercise. I was with one other person. That’s permitted. I then walked briskly to the coffee shop, that’s permitted.

“I didn’t have a mask on while I was drinking coffee. That’s permitted. So, all ridgy didgy even under the current rather oppressive regime.”

Police patrolling Manly Beach on the lookout for people breaking lockdown rules. Picture: Tim Hunter

There is a $500 fine for adults in NSW that fail to comply with a direction to wear or carry a mask.

The person who took the photograph of Mr Abbott told news.com.au that Mr Abbott was still chatting without his mask after they returned from a dip in the ocean around 9am.

Mr Abbott is the latest in a conga line of politicians papped maskless by concerned citizens in recent months.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was fined $200 for failing to wear a mask in breach of Covid orders in June.

Local constituents dobbed him into the police after he was spotted in a petrol station in Armidale without a mask.