Coronavirus: Swimmers defy PM on beach ban
Hundreds flocked to closed beaches in defiance of the Prime Minister and local authorities, as police warned of a crackdown.
Hundreds of people have flocked to closed beaches in defiance of the Prime Minister and local authorities, as police warned of a crackdown.
Anyone caught violating formal quarantine orders would face fines of up to $11,000 or six months in prison, NSW police said as the force set up a hotline enabling people to report individuals that continue to disobey public health orders, including gathering in large crowds.
Scott Morrison slammed beachgoers who violated the 500-person cap on outdoor gatherings, warning that more “draconian” social distancing measures would be put in place.
Tens of thousands of people flocked to Bondi Beach on Friday, drawing criticism from community leaders and health experts. Health authorities have identified outbreaks in Bondi and Darlinghurst, both on March 15, at local bars and clubs. “What happened at Bondi Beach was not OK and served as a message to federal and state leaders that too many Australians are not taking these issues seriously enough,” the Prime Minister said on Sunday.
Despite repeated warnings about the risks of spreading COVID-19 — and the closure of Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Coogee and Maroubra beaches by local councils — hundreds made their way into the water or onto the sand, again on Sunday, with some ducking under fencing or other barricades to reach the sand.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott called the beachgoers “stupid” and said any person on a closed beach would be moved on.
Waverley Council, which looks after Bondi Beach, said lifeguards had the power to issue $110 fines for beachgoers who continued to disobey orders to stay away. “We don’t have powers to move people on, so if people don’t leave the beach of their own accord, then police have enforcement powers to move people on,” a spokesman said.
NSW Police said it wanted people and communities to realise the importance of complying with the Public Health Act, but would crack down if necessary — adding a special feature for people to report violations of the act on the Crime Stoppers hotline.
“The NSW Police Force will work with the community, but we ask that people adhere to the health warnings and understand their role; you need to take responsibility for yourselves and for the sake of others,” Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb said.
“While it’s a last resort to request police to step in and take action, we do have powers to ensure compliance.”
At Bondi on Sunday, the sand was clear of people, but dozens of surfers were out in the water, watched over by a handful of police officers. “They got in by sneaking over the rocks at the far end of the beach,” an officer said.
Hundreds of people were on the sand and in the water at neighbouring Bronte, where there were no police present to stop people slipping under fences hastily erected by council workers. Bronte resident and volunteer lifeguard Rukshan de Silva, 29, managed a quick swim before stopping by Cafe Salina for a sit-down coffee. “I heard about the government shutting the beaches down and I thought it would be one last swim for the foreseeable future,” he said.
Mr de Silva said people were ignoring orders not to swim because the beach was a “quintessential” part of Australian life. “The government needs to do what the government needs to do immediately but in the long term they need to find a way to let people access the water.”
He said he was not bothered about contracting coronavirus at the bustling cafe, saying he trusted the owners were rigorously following regulations.
Cafe Salina owner Kim Muddle said she was trying her best to follow social distancing regulations, but customers were flouting them.
“We’re not letting any more than six people sit indoors and we have moved our outdoor tables 1.5 metres apart,” Ms Muddle said.
“But it’s really hard because people keep moving tables closer together, we have to fix it as we go.”
With NSW and Victoria lobbying to shut down all essential services, cafe operators have bigger problems on the horizon.
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