Police say that there have been arrests after unauthorised protest activity in Sydney and Byron Bay today (Saturday 5 September).
Nine people were arrested at parks on Jonson Street and Bay Street, Byron Bay, during the unauthorised protest.
Seven males and two females were taken to Byron Bay Police Station where charges are expected to be laid. (See update Monday 7 September – further charges and infringement notices)
Among those arrested was a 34-year old man police will allege assaulted a senior constable.
Five Penalty Infringement Notices of $1000 were issued for alleged breaches of the current NSW Public Health Orders.
Meanwhile in Sydney
About 11am today, (Saturday 5 September), 19 Penalty Infringement Notices of $1000 were issued by officers from Sydney City Police Area Command during an unauthorised gathering at Hyde Park on Elizabeth Street.
During the operation, three people – two men and a woman were arrested.
A 54-year old man was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station and charged with not comply with notice direction, assault officer in the execution of duty and resist officer in the execution of duty.
In a separate incident, a 44-year-old man allegedly resisted a senior constable after failing to comply with a move-on direction.
He was also taken to Day Street Police Station and charged with not comply with noticed direction and resist officer in the execution of duty.
A 56-year-old woman was also arrested and charged with not comply with police direction.
All three people granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 21 October 2020.
A 16-year-old boy was issued with a youth caution for not complying with Public Health Orders.
About 2pm (Saturday 5 September 2020) 57 Penalty Infringement Notices of $1000 were issued at an unauthorised protest at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush.
Two men were arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station where charges are expected to be laid later today.
Appeal to the community
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.
Yesterday is another reason why the Bay will remain excluded from the Border Bubble….
Recalcitrant privileged greenies fk off.
Well
Done to the true locals of Byron !!! Freedom for the masses 🖤🖤
Can someone tell me what this protest was about? What do these people want to do that they currently can’t – apart from attend the odd doof? Or is it about solidarity with our Victorian comrades? Though heartily sick of lockdown, it appears the vast majority support the measures that they hope will rid them of the Damoclean sword of Covid-19.
The Age yesterday reported an appeal from a very active former Melbourne Vietnam War protester: “If there is to be a limit on protest, a pandemic with the potential for causing exponential growth in infections is the most obvious example I can think of.”
Well, it ‘explains’ why the father of our daughter was hours late to pick her up …
Hard to reconcile what the police were reading to people about Covid 19 directives …there were about 200 people at the peace pole , and they were dragging people away like criminals..the evening before i switched across a game of football on tv with tens of thousands of people sitting together watching 40 guys running around an oval grappling, sweating, spitting, breathing and bleeding with each other….there are no clear directives from the government(s)..they tell us how dangerous and selfish people are to gather in a peaceful protest, but there are totally different rules for others. Meanwhile the nation slides down the toilet for a few sad deaths of really old people (which happens all the time but nobody bothered before this year..check the ABS stats). With respect for others views.
Since when are women in their 20’s ‘old’ – check the ABS site!? Thanks for respecting my point of view! Yeah, you’d have to believe in glory to give up your brain cells, when you could get the excellent exercise by simply running & kicking a ball around by yourself, without having your neck/head/shoulders rammed into the ground at 40 kms/hour! I mean, if you’d like your body to be able to kick a footie around with possible grandkids, one day. Positioning oneself near the peace pole whilst violating NSW Health orders is rather Machiavellian, really.
These idiots should do time as well as major fines.
Hope they all had their aluminium hats on. But note not greenies but conspiracy theory believers. But why give some much space to this protest.
A lot of nutters around but do not forget ScoMo & Co either.
Very confusing rules. Go play football… come off it! Sweaty
coots of man-hood / huff-puff-spit & arms around each
other. [Where’s women footy.] Where’s the masks! Up in
QLD families of ball-kickers are treated like royalty. Police
– I’d like to guess – do as they’re told. As for the public, we
are all ‘stir crazy’ but still coping. Must be a Tony Abbot
agreement. Let the old step off the grid??? Their carers
as well? Go the whole hog, hey. Shut the hospitals & let
nature do its bit. Only thing is – Nature’s not selfish &
doesn’t do selfies.
What a bunch of idiots.
Stupid people without imagination or compassion for the really threatened members of our society.
Hew hippies, what happened to trying to protect Indigenous communities from harm?
Stupid, rich, white people… What poor form.
Shame on you stupid hippies who came out for this. Shame on you.