Coronavirus Australia: NSW police probe clears John Barilaro over farm stay

NSW Police have determined John Barilaro did not breach public health orders by travelling to his farm in NSW’s southeast.

John Barilaro said he had to go to his farm to carry out maintenance. Picture: Supplied.

NSW Police have determined NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro did not breach public health orders by travelling to his farm in NSW’s southeast over the weekend.

Orders made under the state’s public health act prevent unnecessary travel between residencies under the threat of a $1000 fine – but on Monday Mr Barilaro admitted that on the weekend he left his primary residence in the suburbs of Queanbeyan to travel to his 7-bed Nerriga estate 125km away and mull over whether to run for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro.

“Police were alerted today that Deputy Premier John Barilaro had travelled to his property at Nerriga last weekend, and it was reported that the visit may have contravened current Ministerial Directions under the Public Health Act,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“Subsequent inquiries by police from Southern Region revealed that he travelled to the property on Saturday (2 May 2020) and spent the weekend with his family.

“He also conducted various maintenance tasks at the property.

John Barilaro spent the weekend at his farm. Picture: Stayz.

Mr Barilaro in March implored residents of NSW not to travel to the regions so as to not spread coronavirus, saying: “the safest thing you can do right now is stay in your community.”

But in a statement, Mr Barilaro denied he contravened public health orders and his own advice, saying the public health act permits individuals to travel to secondary properties for purposes of maintenance and that the property, still in his electorate of Monaro, is not outside of his community.

He also said that he was allowed to visit the property – which he sometimes rents on holiday website Stayz for thousands of dollars a night – due to recent easing of restrictions in NSW that allow two adults and dependent children to visit other households, no matter the distance.

John Barilaro said he had to work on his farm as maintenance staff had been let go. Picture: Stayz.

“In NSW you have always been permitted to travel to your farm or property to tend to it,” Mr Barilaro said.

“As of 1 May two adults and dependant children can visit another household no matter the distance required to travel.

“My property in Nerriga is located within my electorate of Monaro and is an acreage which requires maintenance.

“My farm was damaged during the recent bushfires but fortunately the local Rural Fire Service in Braidwood was able to save the house.

“Bushfires and COVID-19 restrictions have meant the property is not rented, and as a result we have had to let maintenance staff go, who would usually tend to the property.

“Last Saturday I attended the property to feed the chickens, mow the lawns and tend to maintenance and care as permitted within the rules.”

Former NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin was hit with the $1000 fine in April when he was caught travelling to his Central Coast holiday home in contradiction of public health orders.