Alleged Michael Gunner office vandal Paul Holland refuses to take Covid test

A Covid-sceptic accused of attacking the former Chief Minister’s office has been denied entry to the courtroom. Find out why.

A COVID-SCEPTIC accused of attacking the former Chief Minister’s office has been denied entry to the courtroom after he refused to take a rapid antigen test.

Paul Anthony Holland was due to appear in Darwin Local Court over allegations he trashed Michael Gunner’s Parap offices in the early hours of Tuesday morning, August 2.

Judge Elizabeth Morris said Holland was being treated as Covid positive by the court as he refused to take a Covid test.

His barrister John Lawrence confirmed his client was refusing to comply with the pandemic safety protocols, and asked for the hearing to be adjourned.

Holland was charged with being armed with an offensive weapon, damage to property and unlawful entry.

The 47-year-old remains in custody.

Mr Lawrence said he was likely to make a bail application for his client in the upcoming hearing on Friday August 5.

Police said the 47-year-old was arrested near Mr Gunner’s electorate office in Parap shortly after reports of a man causing extensive damage at 4.10am, Tuesday.

Red police tape was strung up around the Parap Shopping Village office, with glass left shattered on the carpet, books thrown around and bricks scattered near the entryway.

The former chief minister said he was consulting with police about his family’s safety.

“It was a very personal break in targeting photos of me and items of personal importance to me,” he wrote on Facebook.

Police investigate after former Chief Minister Michael Gunner's Parap office was vandalised on Tuesday, August 2.

“My staff are OK, my family are OK. The person who allegedly committed the offence has been caught.

“We’ll take advice from police on what our next steps may need to be to keep my family safe.”

In December a NT Police spokeswoman said across Australia senior figures including politicians were reporting a rise in threats directed at them due to Covid-related decisions.