A travel company has been issued a $5000 PIN for breaching a public health order after taking three busloads of tourists to a zoo in the state’s west yesterday.
About 9.30am (Monday 28 June 2021), three buses arrived at the zoo on Obley Road, Dubbo.
On board were 128 staff and guests – at least 76 of whom were not permitted to travel outside Greater Sydney under the current public health order.
Staff at the zoo refused to allow the travellers off the buses and police were called.
Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District attended and spoke to tour operators, establishing the group had left Sydney last Friday (25 June 2021) and had continued to travel throughout regional NSW after the Public Health Orders were updated on Saturday.
The guests were directed to return home immediately and the tour company has been issued a $5000 PIN.
State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said the company owner told police he was aware of the public health orders but decided to continue the tour as planned anyway.
“But the staff at the zoo did exactly the right thing – they isolated the risk and alerted police. They did a great job to protect the local community,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
Investigations into further possible breaches are continuing.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said now was a crucial time for our state and it was disappointing to see people continuing to breach the health orders.
“I would appeal to everyone to not only follow the rules but use your common sense and do your bit to help NSW beat this virus,” Minister Elliott said.
In other incidents, a man and woman have been charged with offences including assault after they allegedly refused to check in with a QR code when entering a restaurant at Forster.
About 7.15pm yesterday (Monday 28 June 2021), the couple attended the Wharf Street restaurant and were asked by staff to sign in using the QR code.
They refused and were informed they would have to leave if they did not comply. It is alleged the man again refused and picked up a bottle of water and threw it against a wall, smashing it.
The man was escorted from the restaurant and it is further alleged the man punched the owner, a 39-year-old man.
The woman allegedly bit a 44-year-old man who was attempting to intervene, causing bleeding and bruising to his bicep.
The owner sustained facial injuries and a suspected broken nose and was taken to Manning Base Hospital.
The man and woman left the restaurant; however, officers from Manning/Great Lakes Police District arrested both a short time later, and took them to Forster Police Station.
The 34-year-old man was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, intimidation and malicious damage.
The 27-year-old woman was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. They were granted conditional bail and are expected to appear in Forster Local Court on Wednesday 28 July 2021.
They were each issued $1000 PINs for fail to comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
In total, 34 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 16 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
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