Bar Wunder owner charged with failing to comply with Covid-19 public health orders

The owner of a Toowoomba venue that allegedly failed to comply with Covid-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions have had their charges mentioned in court.

The owner of a Toowoomba venue that has made headlines for allegedly failing to comply with the state government’s Covid-19 public health orders has had the matter mentioned in court.

Mark Kenneth McElligott, 56, has been charged with two counts of failing to comply with a Covid-19 direction, emergency officer, one imposed on December 21 and the other on January 22.

The charges arise from the state government’s Covid-19 rules which came into effect on December 17, effectively banning unvaccinated people from pubs, cafes, restaurants, festivals, entertainment venues, museums, galleries and libraries during the peak of the pandemic outbreak.

People protest outside Bar Wunder after the bar was shut down over failing to comply with the public health direction, Friday, December 24, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Represented by solicitor Derek Perkins, of Queensland Lawyers, Mr McElligott’s matter was briefly mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court where it was adjourned to April 19.

Mr Perkins told the court the adjournment was to await the results of a judicial review into vaccine mandates launched by other businesses across the state opposed to the chief health officer’s restrictions on unvaccinated members of the public and restrictions on businesses.

Magistrate Kay Philipson allowed Mr McElligott’s bail to continue, and no plea has been entered to the charges.

Late last year, after repeated public statements against the mandate, Bar Wunder was slugged with a $6892 fine for allegedly failing to comply with the public health directive on the first weekend they came into effect.

The venue was the site of a number of protests against the Covid-19 vaccine and public health orders.