Police hand out first $5000 quarantine fine after man left his hotel room

POLICE have handed out their first $5000 quarantine fine to a man who ‘didn’t want to’ stay in his hotel room

Police have handed out their first $5000 quarantine breach fine. Picture: Che Chorley

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TERRITORY police have handed out their first $5000 quarantine fine to a man who “didn’t want to” stay in his hotel room.

The 25-year-old man was in quarantine when he was reported missing from the hotel. When found and when questioned he told officers he “didn’t want to stay in four walls”.

He was issued the first increased fine of $5056, which was raised under tough new rules announced by the NT Government as the Territory’s borders opened.

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On Wednesday a 20-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man from Western Australia were also fined after being spotted by a compliance team at a shopping centre two days after their arrival.

When spoken to by police they were unable to provide a lawful reason for breaching their quarantine. They were fined $1106 each.

NT Police and Environmental Health Officers continue to undertake compliance activities, with 27,722 compliance checks completed and 141 fines issued.

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The fine for failing to abide by the Chief Health Officer Directions issued under section 56 of the Public and Environmental Health Act 2011 has increased to $5056 for an individual and $25,280 for a business.

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