Coronavirus: Gladys Berejiklian refuses to sack NSW minister Don Harwin for flouting social isolation rules and working from holiday home

Gladys Berejiklian refuses to sack NSW minister Don Harwin for flouting social isolation rules and working from his holiday home.

NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin at his holiday home at Pearl Beach on Wednesday. Picture: AAP

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she is “deeply disappointed” but will not sack the senior NSW minister Don Harwin for flouting social isolation rules and working from his Pearl Beach holiday home.

“I was advised a few days ago that he decided to make that his principal place to live some three weeks ago,” the Premier said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

“But obviously given what we have asked the rest of the Sydney community to do I think it’s entirely appropriate he come back to Sydney,” she said.

However, the Premier defended the senior minister, stating that he had decided to relocate before restrictions were in place. “I completely agree that we cannot have a perceived rule for everybody else and a perceived rule for others,” she said.

“I feel very passionately about protecting the wellbeing of 8 million citizens but I can’t be responsible for every person’s actions.”

Mr Harwin was caught staying at his central­ coast holiday house as Scott Morrison begged Aust­ralians to stay away from regional areas during the Easter break.

The Premier brushed off demands to discipline her colleague and indicated the only form of punishment Mr Harwin could face is a $1000 fine for failing to adhere to public health orders.

NSW Police would be tasked with determining any breaches.

Should Mr Harwin’s excuse not “cut the mustard”, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said he wouldn’t hesitate to issue the minister a ticket. Mr Fuller has previously said NSW residents should be in lockdown at their primary residence to prevent regional hospitals becoming overwhelmed. Officials across the world have been caught flouting self-isolation rules including Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood and New Zealand Health Minister David Clark.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper found Mr Harwin — a moderate Liberal powerbroker close to the Premier — at his Pearl Beach getaway on Wednesday, despite the fact he primarily lives in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Elizabeth Bay.

The Prime Minister and the ­national cabinet have been ­imploring Australians not to go to regional areas — including ­holiday homes — so as to avoid ­spreading COVID-19 to parts of regional Australia that have so far been less affected by the ­pandemic.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Mr Harwin has been travelling recently between his $1.3m holiday home and Sydney for parliam­ent and a medical appointment. He denied any wrongdoing on Wednesday.

“I live in a very built-up area in Sydney with high density and here I have windows that can open so I can have the fresh air and I can walk in fresh air and I have more room in my house here than I would have in my small apartment in inner Sydney,” Mr Harwin told The Daily Telegraph.

“I have two residences. I have chosen to live at this one for health reasons.”

NSW public health orders still allow people to move between differen­t places of residence.

But both federal and state governm­ent officials, including Mr Morrison, have urged Aust­ralians to stay in their primary residence.

“We are only days away from Easter. The time that should give us great hope. And the message is clear, though. Stay home. Don’t travel. Don’t go away. We can’t let up now,” Mr Morrison told parliament on Wednesday.

Mr Harwin’s holiday home controversy comes as New ­Zealand’s Health Minister, David Clark, was demoted this week for breaking lockdown rules and ­Scotland’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, resigned for twice leaving Edinburgh to visit her holiday home, 55km away.