Coronavirus: We got it wrong: Queensland Police review 496 fines

The Queensland Police Service has been forced to overhaul its interpretation of the government’s orders to stay at home.

Hundreds of people ‘exercising’ on Gold Coast beaches on Monday even though they were advised to stay home. Picture: Adam Head

The Queensland Police Service has been forced to overhaul its ­interpretation of the government’s orders to stay at home after officers wrongfully issued fines for legal activity over Easter.

All fines issued by police relating to Queensland Health’s COVID-19 direction will go to a review committee and those ­issued by officers with an incorrect interpretation of the law will be withdrawn. Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said 496 $1334 penalty infringement notices had been issued at the Easter weekend after people ­flouted social-distancing rules.

Large crowds flocked to Gold Coast beaches on Monday despite warnings of a police crackdown.

More than 700 fines have been issued since the law came into ­effect, but “interpretation issues” have forced police to re-evaluate some infringement notices that may have been wrongfully issued.

Among the fines was a ticket for a man dumping rubbish at a tip in Brisbane, which remained open.

Mr Gollschewski was forced to clarify the laws on Monday morning, saying it was lawful for a person to visit a business or service that remained open. “This is one of those areas where interpretatively we’ve had to really look at it,” he said.

“We had a very senior level discussion with Queensland Health yesterday to clarify it, finally.

“The bottom line is there are businesses that under the directions are allowed to remain operating … your local council tip is one of those. If those businesses are ­allowed to keep operating, it’s reasonable for people to be able to use those services.”

Mr Gollschewski said, however, that people visiting businesses or using community services still needed to abide by ­social-­distancing rules.

Police have established a ­review process to ensure fines have not been issued in error.

“Because this is such a new system and it’s been put together so very quickly for our officers, like anyone else it’s difficult for everybody to adjust so quickly,” Mr Gollschewski said.

“What we’ve done to make sure we’re getting it right is that all ­notices that have been issued are subject to review and we will look at those to make sure they are appropriately issued; if they haven’t been, they will be withdrawn.”

About 10 per cent of the $660,000 in fines at the weekend were for breaches of quarantine.

Almost 1000 vehicles have been turned away at the Queensland border since the state’s hardline border restrictions came into force last week. There have been 81,000 vehicle interceptions since the border closed.