COVID-19 NSW, Vic, Qld: Sydney anti-maskers' wild brawl with cops

The NSW Premier has expressed her disappointment after two men refusing to wear face masks allegedly assaulted police officers at a Sydney shopping centre. 

The NSW Premier has expressed her disappointment after two men refusing to wear face masks became aggressive and allegedly assaulted police officers at a western Sydney shopping centre. 

 

The 51-year-old and 39-year-old men "allegedly became aggressive and argumentative towards the two female officers", a statement from NSW Police said today, after they were stopped at the Wetherill Park complex at 7:30pm last night. 

"Police attempted to restrain the men but when they allegedly resisted, OC spray was deployed." 

Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters this morning "it is so disappointing when disrespect is shown or worse to police officers or anyone else working in the system to keep all of us safe". 

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he hoped "the full force of the law is thrown at those people". 

"If you don't have a medical reason to not wear a mask, not wearing a mask is arrogant, selfish, and actually dopey," he said. 

The pair were charged with five offences, released on conditional bail and will appear in Fairfield Local Court on February 8. 

An Earlwood woman who repeatedly refused to wear a face mask was also arrested for defying public health orders.

Officers patrolling train stations across the Illawarra yesterday afternoon spotted the 47-year-old allegedly not wearing mask, and when approached she refused to answer questions or provide police with identification. 

Read on for all the latest updates.