Queensland tourist who allegedly broke quarantine rules a no-show in court

A Queensland tourist charged with breaking quarantine rules during Tasmania’s coronavirus emergency has failed to show for his court appearance today. LATEST >>

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A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a Queensland man who allegedly broke quarantine rules when he travelled to Tasmania in June.

David Joseph McDonnell, 38, was due to plead to a charge of knowingly provide false or misleading information in the Burnie Magistrate’s Court in relation to his visit to the North-West city.

But he failed to turn up and Magistrate Tamara Jago issued a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear.

McDonnell first appeared in the Burnie court on June 11 via video link from the local police station.

He had been arrested after being found camping in a rented van at Cooee.

The court heard McDonnell allegedly told police coronavirus was a hoax and gave a false local address when he arrived in Tasmania on June 4.

Magistrate Jago bailed the visitor but ordered him straight into a two-week quarantine in a Devonport hotel, saying he needed to comply with this state’s health emergency rules despite his views on the legitimacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Police claim he told authorities he lived in Queenstown on the state’s West Coast.

The court was told he had not lived there since 2016.

An original quarantine order was made based on the information given that McDonnell was a Tasmanian returning home but police allege he did not comply.

He was later contacted by police, who rang him, but allegedly terminated the calls.

The prosecution also claimed he refused to wear a face mask when directed to by police.

While out in the North-West community, McDonnell had visited a real estate agency, a restaurant and a hire car business, the court was told.

There is no indication McDonnell was carrying the coronavirus when he arrived in Tasmania.