Cops ability to fine people for breaching physical distance quietly taken away before Darwin protest

Cops could not have fined anyone attending Darwin’s Black Lives Matter rally for not physical distancing because that authority was revoked by the Chief Health Officer the day before.

COPS could not have fined anyone attending Darwin’s Black Lives Matter rally for not physical distancing because that authority was revoked by the Chief Health Officer the day before.

On Friday, the eve of the protest, the NT’s Chief Health Officer quietly issued a directive that effectively removed NT Police’s authority to fine people for repeatedly failing or refusing to follow the 1.5 metre physical distancing rule outdoors.

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But the Health Department says the new direction had “nothing to do with the rally”.

“The change to physical distancing was planned in line with moving to Stage 3 of the road to the new normal and adjustments of restrictions,” a spokeswoman said.

“NT Health continues to ask all Territorians and visitors to adhere to the physical distancing principle of keeping a distance if 1.5 metres from each other.”

A thousand people marched at Darwin’s Black Lives Matter rally on June 13, 2020. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

This means that police can no longer enforce physical distancing in outdoor areas. Physical distancing is now strictly a “social responsibility”.

Outdoor events with crowds larger than 500 people will still need to lodge a COVID-19 safety plan, and physical distancing signage outside venues will still be in place.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said the peak body encourage patrons to continue to “adhere to health advice” signage at venues.

But he also warned that it was now expected the new rules to be “applied equitably throughout industry and the community”.

“It sounds like (Saturday’s) large protest with little to no distancing has set the new benchmark.”

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro slammed the government for not letting the community know the order had been made.

“Why was this done without any publicity? Was the government trying to be secretive about it?” she said.

“Territorians need to be kept informed with the most accurate and up to date information and it’s not good enough that people were not informed.”

About a thousand people attended Darwin’s Black Lives Matter rally on Saturday, in what was the largest protest the city had seen in recent memory. Rally organisers did lodge COVID-19 safety plans and said they were given the tick of approval.