Windscreens Territory issued another fine for breaching CHO directions
NT Police have issued another infringement notice to Windscreens Territory for remaining open while in breach of CHO direction.
Northern Territory
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UPDATE FRIDAY: NT Police have issued another infringement notice to Windscreens Territory for remaining open while in breach of CHO direction.
The Coconut Grove business was shut down on January 7 after multiple reports were made that staff were breaching CHO directions by not wearing masks despite the indoors mask mandate.
The business has now been charged for remaining open while in breach of CHO directions.
The business was also found to have failed to submit a Covid Safety Plan while not keeping a vaccination register.
“Police will continue to attempt peaceful engagement with the businesses owners to assist them with their compliance issues,” Incident Controller Superintendent Lee Morgan said.
“The CHO Directions are in place for the safety of the wider community and are law.”
The penalty for failing to abide by the CHO Directions issued under section 56 of the Public and Environmental Health Act 2011 is $5,024 for an individual and $25,120 for a business.
UPDATE WED 2PM: A SPONTANEOUS anti-vax, anti-mandate rally at a Coconut Grove business has potentially racked up a $75,000 bill as police fine protesters for breaching emergency health orders.
NT Police have confirmed five more people and one business, Windscreens Territory, have been issued with infringement notices.
This was the second fine issued to the Coconut Grove business, which was forcibly shut on Friday for breaching the chief health officer’s directions.
Windscreens Territory was shut down after it allegedly failed to submit a Covid Safety Plan and it did not keep a vaccination register.
Police reported the owner and two staff at the business were unvaccinated and were issued infringements.
The forcible closure sparked protests this week on Monday, with a smaller gathering of anti-vax, anti-mandate protesters also meeting on Tuesday.
Incident Controller Acting Commander Virginia Read said the fines were issued for breaches that occurred on both days.
“Covid is already within our community, and as a community we are doing everything we can to reduce its impact on lives and our healthcare systems,” Ms Read said.
“Actions such as these make it all the more harder for us to protect the Territory.
“The CHO Directions are enforceable orders, to continue to disobey them leaves police with no other option but to issue infringements”.
A total of ten people have been fined in connection to the anti-mandate demonstrations at the Coconut Grove business.
The Monday protests occurred while the Territory-wide lockout was in place.
Under the lockout only fully vaccinated people could leave their home for reasons other than medical needs, essential shopping or to provide care for a person who cannot support themselves.
It is understood some of the fines were for breaching the lockout, which ended on Monday, while some were for other breaches of CHO Directions.
The penalty for failing to abide by the CHO Directions issued under section 56 of the Public and Environmental Health Act 2011 is $5,024 for an individual and $25,120 for a business.
UPDATE TUES 2PM: FIVE alleged anti-vax protesters who rallied around a closed Coconut Grove business have each been slapped with a $5024 fine.
NT Police confirmed five infringement notices were issued yesterday for breaches of the chief health officer’s Directions following the Windscreens Territory protest.
Around 100 people attended the Monday morning anti-vaccination, anti-mandate demonstration, while the Territory-wide lockout was still in place.
Under the lockout only fully vaccinated people could leave their home for reasons other than medical needs, essential shopping or to provide care for a person who cannot support themselves.
Incident Controller Acting Commander Lauren Hill confirmed on Tuesday that five people who attended the Monday protest had been fined, with more infringements likely to be issued as the investigation continued.
“Police do not enjoy issuing these infringements but we do again ask people to understand that these measures are in place to safeguard Territorians,” Ms Hill said.
“The CHO Directions are law, they are not negotiable and police are no longer taking an educative approach when it comes to compliance.”
Ms Hill said Operation Crown investigators were still reviewing footage taken at the location, and warned further infringements may be issued.
The demonstration was filmed by organisers, with many in the crowd also live streaming the event.
Many attending did not wear masks, yelled anti-vaccine anti-mandate statements, brandished protest signs and wore ‘Free in the NT’ shirts.
Some protesters demanded that Chief Minister Michael Gunner answer questions over the forcibly closed business.
On Friday NT Police Incident controller Virginia Read said Windscreens Territory was shut down after it failed to submit a Covid Safety Plan and it did not keep a vaccination register.
Police alleged the owner and two staff at the business were unvaccinated and were issued infringements.
The penalty for failing to abide by the CHO Directions issued under section 56 of the Public and Environmental Health Act 2011 is $5,024 for an individual and $25,120 for a business.
UPDATE MON 10AM: DEMONSTRATORS including anti-mandate and anti-vaccine protesters have rallied around a Darwin business accused of ignoring health directions.
Around 100 people gathered outside Windscreens Territory on Monday morning to show their support for the Coconut Grove business.
NT Police shut down the business on Friday after multiple reports from the public that staff were breaching CHO directions, including not wearing a mask.
The business called out for support, with a large group gathering on Monday.
Some carried signs, while others wore ‘Free in the NT’ shirts.
The owners did not wish to comment, but several members of the demonstration called for the “truth to be told” and accused journalists of being complicit with “lies”.
Protesters said their calls were being screened by the Chief Minister's office and called on Michael Gunner to visit the closed business.
On Friday NT Police Incident controller Virginia Read said Windscreens Territory failed to submit a Covid Safety Plan and it did not keep a vaccination register.
Police alleged the owner and two staff at the business were unvaccinated and were issued infringements.
They face fines of up to $5024 for an individual and $25,120 for a business if found to have failed to abide by the CHO Directions.
UPDATE: THERE has been a furious reaction to the forced closure of a Darwin business for breaching CHO directives.
Police on Friday shut down Windscreens Territory in Coconut Grove after reports staff were breaching CHO directions, including not wearing masks.
A social media post by Chief Minister Michael Gunner calling out the business said “it is a gut punch when you see the selfish few break the law”.
“We are chasing every lead on anti-vaxxer law breakers — if you know anyone else who is acting selfish let us know, we take it seriously and will slug them hard.”
That post, and one by NT Police, drew an angry response criticising the Government’s reprisals against longstanding Territory businesses.
Christine Norris wrote: “It’s a gut punch that when Territorians keep getting broken into and don’t get any support from the NT Government”.
Jeffrey Usher: “You big hero, as if you haven’t made it hard enough on businesses already”.
Dee Fleming: “Are they Anti-Vax or just pro-choice?
Tamara Covington: “Next we will all have to put our books in the street for them to burn. Turning one person on another for their choice or belief.”
Jen Wolfe: “Really Gunner? I have followed you and supported you for the last few years and this is the lowest I’ve seen you go”.
The Territory is in the middle of a lockout that means vaccinated people cannot leave their homes and there is an indoor mask mandate.
NT Police said the business had not submitted a Covid Safety Plan and did not keep a vaccination register.
Incident Controller Virgina Read said CHO directions helped keep the community safe.
“The owner and two staff who were present when police attended the business are not vaccinated and they have been issued infringements for breaching CHO Direction 2 lockout directions and CHO Direction 55 mandator vaccination of workers to attend the workplace,” she said.
The NT News contacted Mr Gunner but he declined to make any further comment on the closure.
EARLIER: A DARWIN business has been shut down after it was found to be open against the chief health officer’s directions.
Police attended Coconut Grove business Windscreens Territory after receiving numerous reports from the public that staff were breaching CHO directions including not wearing masks.
The Territory is currently undergoing a lockout which means unvaccinated people cannot leave their homes and a indoors mask mandate is also in effect.
Incident controller Virginia Read said the business had failed to submit a Covid Safety Plan and it did not keep a vaccination register.
“The owner and two staff who were present when police attended the business are not vaccinated and they have been issued infringements for breaching CHO Direction 2 lockout directions and CHO Direction 55 mandatory vaccination of workers to attend the workplace,” she said.
“The majority of Territorians are doing the right thing to help keep the community as safe as possible. Covid-19 is now in our community but there are measures as outlined in CHO Directions that can limit the risk to public health.
“Police will continue to conduct compliance checks with a zero tolerance approach.”
Chief Minister Michael Gunner was scathing of the business calling the breach a gut punch to everyone who had done the right thing.
“I’m angry and every Territorian should be angry,” he said.
We have sacrificed so much during Covid for ourselves, for loved ones and for strangers.
“This is a gut punch, the selfish few have abused simple and fair health rules.
“It’s a gut punch to businesses doing the right thing and to our frontline workers who deserves all of us to do our bit.
“I know the absolute overwhelming majority of Territorians are doing the right thing.
“Police will keep chasing every lead on those doing the wrong thing and putting lives at risk.”
The penalty for failing to abide by the CHO Directions issued under section 56 of the Public and Environmental Health Act 2011 is $5,024 for an individual and $25,120 for a business.
Windscreens Territory was contacted for comment.
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