Daniel Robshaw was declined entry to Queensland but crossed anyway

The 40-year-old was found in Queensland when his application had been declined at the New South Wales/Queensland border.

A Covid border hopper who crossed into Queensland despite his application being declined has been fined more than $4000 by a Toowoomba magistrate.

Daniel Robshaw travelled across Australia with the refrigeration company for which he worked and had been in northern New South Wales during the Covid-19 travel restriction period, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

About midnight September 16, 2021, Robshaw had attempted to cross the Queensland/New South Wales border but was refused entry because of deficiencies in his application paperwork.

However, Robshaw later crossed the border without resubmitting any paperwork, police prosecutor Sergeant Natalie Bugden told the court.

Robshaw appeared by telephone from South Australia to plead guilty to failing to comply with Covid-19 public health direction – CHO.

His solicitor Troy Krahenbring, of Wonderley and Hall, told the court his client had completed the questionnaire for entry into Queensland but was told there was an error.

Robshaw had been picked up months later and told he shouldn’t have been in Queensland and it appeared his entry was unauthorised.

Magistrate Kay Philipson was less than impressed with Robshaw’s excuse.

“So, he was declined entry and then thought he could (later) enter on the same declined paperwork,” she said.

Telling Robshaw there should have been no confusion, Ms Philipson fined him the ticket amount of $4135 and ordered he pay court costs of $108.60.

The conviction was not recorded.