Coronavirus Melbourne: Young Victorians copping most fines for flouting restriction rules

More than 50 per cent of fines issued for breaching coronavirus restrictions have been ­issued to people aged between 18 and 29.

Young Victorians are breach­ing the state’s stay at home measures in record numbers, data has revealed.

A review of fines issued for breaches of the Chief Health Officers directions has found more than 50 per cent were ­issued to people aged between 18 and 29.

More than 20 per cent went to people aged between 30 and 39 while about 10 per cent were issued to people aged 40-49.

Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos has urged Victorians to remain vigilant. Picture: AAP

More than 70 per cent of all fines were issued to males.

The alarming data has added to concerns young people are ignoring the serious health warnings surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos on Tuesday urged Victorians to remain vigilant.

“While we’ve had a slowdown in the growth of numbers over the last week, we’re not out of the woods,” she said.

“It’s important to stress if we were to lift the restrictions, today, tomorrow, we’d have 200-odd (infected) people walking around the community … by the end of the month we’d have thousands of new cases.

“It’s important we continue to drive down those numbers before we consider lifting restrictions.”

The comments came as the state’s confirmed COVID-19 cases continued to stabilise, with just 10 new ones bringing the state tally to 1291.

Victoria’s death toll is still at 14, with 40 people in hospital and 15 in intensive care.

Victoria Police Protective Services Officers patrol St Kilda Beach. Picture: AAP

Ms Mikakos said the focus had shifted to identifying and stopping community transmission, which remains a key danger of spreading the virus.

Of the 1291 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the state, more than a third have been in people aged 20-39.

Under Stage 3 restrictions implemented earlier this month, Victorians can leave home for just four reasons: food and supplies, medical care and caregiving, exercise, and work or education.

Breaches of the measures risk fines of up to $20,000 for the most serious examples.

This week police have fined people caught having a barbecue at a bathing box on Brighton Beach, partying in a backyard at Strathdale and gathering in a large group at Montrose.

Police officers patrol St Kilda Beach. Picture: AAP

Victoria’s chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton has repeatedly warned ignoring the rules could cause a significant surge in COVID-19 cases.

“Young people are not immune in this pandemic — many young people may think they are not in the age category for coronavirus, but they are, and the numbers prove that,” he said.

“We’ve seen from tragic cases around the world that even healthy young people can end up in intensive care.

“Our message to all Victorians is clear — stay home to keep yourselves safe, protect the most vulnerable in your own family and in the ­community and stop our health system from getting overwhelmed.”

COMMISSIONER TO REVIEW ALL FINES

One of Victoria’s top cops has vowed to check every fine issued to the public for flouting COVID-19 restrictions.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton’s response comes after an email
he sent to all Victorian Police members asking them to use discretion in issuing fines while enforcing measures outlined by the chief
health officer.

Mr Patton said while police would continue to enforce the law and fine people for “blatant breaches”, the force did not need to use a “sledge hammer” approach to the COVID-19 restrictions.

He said his directive was to use commonsense.

“It’s important we’re using discretion in maintaining the public confidence in us in the way we’re applying those,’’ Mr Patton said.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton. Picture: AAP

It comes amid ongoing confusion about what activities were allowed after multiple people were warned off the beach for paddleboarding.

Sabina Keran was using her stand-up paddleboard at Chelsea Beach on Easter Monday when police on a boat ordered her out of the water.

She said her husband had called the Chelsea police and was told it was OK to go paddleboarding.

“I’m not too happy about the inconsistency,” she said.

“I don’t want to push for the right to go paddleboarding, but I want consistency.”

Another paddleboarder was escorted to the shore by a police boat patrolling off Elwood on Monday.

A witness said although there were swimmers in the water at Elwood, the solo paddleboarder was the only person approached by the police boat.

“The use of SUPS (along with all vessels) is banned as part of the current stage 3 restrictions,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.

Sabina Keran was paddleboarding on Easter Monday when a police boat came up behind her and ordered her to get off. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The Easter weekend had 532 infringements issued for noncompliance, including 99 on Monday.

It brings the total to 1249 since police started issuing fines on March 21.

In comparison, only three $1000 spot fines were handed out over Easter in Western Australia.

Mr Patton said as of Tuesday police were taking a proactive approach to reviewing all infringements.

“We’re not waiting for people to come to us and say this is wrong,” he said.

“We’re going to be every day looking at these infringements to make sure we’ve got it right, because I want to be absolutely certain we do have it right and that’s why I’m personally going to be looking at the entire list of infringements every day.’’

Mr Patton said police were human and mistakes occurred.

“We’re happy to admit when we are wrong,’’ he said.

“When we do get it wrong, we’ll fill fix it.’’

To date, police have “proactively withdrawn’’ less than 10 infringement notices issued incorrectly.

RESORTS’ UPHILL BATTLE

Victorian ski resorts may have to refund or credit thousands of season and lift passes if the COVID-19 crisis continues through winter.

Resorts are preparing for the season to go ahead — but some are urgently reviewing their usual no-refund policy to combat a plunge in bookings.

Resorts including Falls Creek, Hotham and Mt Buller have confirmed they are making tentative plans to open on time in early June.

But all confirmed a range of scenarios were being discussed — including the impact of having no ski season at all.

Colin Hackworth, chief executive of peak body Australian Ski Areas Association, conceded a shorter season may be required — and he advised anyone considering purchasing a season pass to “wait and see” how the situation unfolded.

Resorts including Falls Creek, Hotham and Mt Buller have confirmed they are making tentative plans to open on time in early June. Picture: Aaron Francis

Bookings were at “much-reduced levels”, he said.

“Customers are doing what the resorts are doing and watching and waiting.”

Until then, resorts were “developing refund policies”.

“But clearly they won’t be financially disadvantaging people for this situation,” Mr Hackworth said.

“The resorts are keen to open in one way, shape or form, but we are really dependent on what the government and health authorities say.

“There will be no season at all without their blessing.”

The industry — which supported 23,000 jobs across Australia — was flexible and operators were used to delaying their openings, Mr Hackworth said.

Until a decision was made, resorts were carrying out maintenance and repairs.

Mr Hackworth was confident the ski resorts could recruit seasonal staff in a short time frame.

Originally published as Coronavirus Melbourne: Young Victorians copping most fines for flouting restriction rules