Brad Hazzard warns public with massive fines for breaching new Covid-19 restrictions

The NSW Government has made the consequences crystal clear for anyone daring to breach the state’s new Covid-19 restrictions.

New South Wales Minister for Health Brad Hazzard has fired an early warning shot for anyone thinking of stretching the state’s new Covid-19 restrictions.

Speaking at a snap press conference alongside NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Mr Hazzard announcing heavy fines to anyone found leaving the Greater Sydney area. Mr Hazzard said the NSW Police force has “all sorts of technology” to track number plates of Sydneysiders attempting to squeeze through the lockdown border.

“The Deputy Commissioner has made clear that police have been tasked to be on the lookout for any vehicles that may have come from the Greater Sydney area. And I remind you that they have all sorts of technology these days, including recognition of number plates,” he said, claiming people in small communities will “let police know” if tourists arrive.

“I also remind the community that the regional communities are very aware when they see someone from out of town arrive and they‘ll make sure that the police know.”

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Mr Hazzard did the quick maths for anybody shy a calculator. With fines for breaching lockdown at $11,000 per person, a full car load of people breaching lockdown will amount to a whopping $55,000.

“I want the community to understand to take it seriously,” he warned. “Because if the police officer detects that you’re there, and there’s say five people in the car, that’s potentially if he decides that you’re going to go to court — $11,000 times five is a maximum fine of $55,000.

“Each of the individuals could end up in court, and if the court considers it appropriate, having a 6-month jail sentence. So take it very, very seriously.”

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NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard has warned of massive fines for anyone breaching the state’s new lockdown measures.

“Unfortunately, what this pandemic has demonstrated is that we don‘t know what’s around the corner,” Mr Hazzard said.

“But what I do know is that New South Wales has some of the best contact tracers in the world. And I also know that our people are resilient and we’ll be able to deal with any challenge that comes our way.”

Four reasons Sydneysiders can leave home

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed the tough new measures in her second Covid-19 press conference on Saturday, hours after the state posted 12 new infections.

From 6pm on Saturday June 26, everybody living in greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong can leave home for only four reasons until midnight on Friday, July 9:

* For essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

* Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer.

* Medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a Covid-19 vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact)

* Shopping for essential goods and services.

Regional NSW slapped with new restrictions

Ms Berejiklian said regional NSW, which are currently not in lockdown, will have to undergo restrictions that have been in place for broader Sydney since the recent cluster.

They are:

- No more than five visitors in your home.

- All hospitality has to be seated - one person per four square metre rule.

- Only a 50 per cent capacity for outdoor events.

- Indoor mask wearing and restrictions in relation to funerals and weddings.

“So for those parts of New South Wales that aren’t in lockdown, restrictions still apply because we want to make sure that if there have been any occasions where people unknowingly have taken the virus outside into the regions, that we don’t have any spread in those regions,” she said.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said the restrictions were crucial to stop the spread from the city to regional communities.

“It is important that we do not seed our regional communities,” Dr Chant said. “So anyone who has been in Sydney, Greater Sydney from June 2 1, we‘re asking you to stay at home for 14 days since you’ve left that area.”