Coronavirus: Queensland border jumpers and self-isolation truants cop hefty fines

Queensland’s crackdown on quarantine rule-breakers and border hoppers has led to five people being fined as the state attempts to keep the virus out.

Police setting up barricades in Coolangatta on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Queensland’s crackdown on quarantine rule-breakers and border hoppers has led to five people being fined as the state attempts to keep the virus out.

In the three days since the northern beaches, Greater Sydney and the Central Coast were declared COVID-19 hotspots on the back of rising case numbers, Queensland police have ramped up monitoring of those currently in the state who have been trusted with self-quarantining.

More than 186 compliance checks completed since Saturday found that 97 per cent of people were following the rules, police said on Tuesday. However, four people have been fined $1334 for not complying with stay-at-home self-quarantine orders.

Two visitors from Sydney’s northern beaches, a man aged 61 and a 41-year-old woman, were found on a Gold Coast beach having left their nearby accommodation on Sunday and have since returned to NSW. A 31-year-old man was also found on a beachside stroll at Stradbroke Island last Saturday, while a man from Woree, near Cairns, was not at his supplied address when a surprise check was undertaken on Sunday. The two men are now in hotel quarantine.

All four were tested and returned a negative result.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said she understood quarantine was an ­inconvenience but it was in the state’s best interest.

“It’s really disappointing to hear that people are not complying with their home quarantine notices,” Dr Young said. “I know it’s an inconvenience, but it is absolutely vital. I’m pleading with Queenslanders to follow the rules and keep up the great work of keeping Queenslanders safe.”

The state recorded no new cases on Tuesday.

At the border, cars idled on the Gold Coast motorway for up to two hours on Monday night. Queenslanders returning home from COVID-19 hotspots queued at checkpoints in a rush to beat the 1am cut-off time announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk before mandatory hotel quarantine provisions came into effect.

Sydneysiders hopeful of making an 11th-hour dash to spend Christmas with family members were turned away at the border.

Asked whether the Premier had been too hasty in declaring the restrictions on some NSW ­residents who lived far from Sydney, which had been seemingly criticised by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, a spokesman for Ms Palaszczuk — who is away on holidays — said she had always followed health advice.

Queensland Police confirmed 57 cars and 115 people had been refused entry to the state by 10.30am on Tuesday.

One woman was issued a $4003 on-the-spot fine for attempting to fool police at two checkpoints to enter the state.