Though Operation Stay At Home was launched last week to enforce Public Health Orders across NSW, parallel plans were being made for protests, including one held at Tweed Heads today, where protestors crossed the border between Queensland at Coolangatta and NSW at Tweed Heads.
A high-visibility police operation was launched by officers from Tweed/Byron and Richmond Police Districts to prevent, disrupt and respond to any planned mass gathering or protest activity.
As a consequence of protest actions, NSW Police arrested eight people and issued more than 50 Penalty Infringement Notices following the protest activity.
Tweed/Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent David Roptell, said officers responded swiftly to disrupt the activities of protestors in the area. ‘NSW Police are taking the threat of unauthorised protest activity extremely seriously and will not hesitate in the enforcement of the Public Health Orders,” Supt Roptell said.
‘It is disappointing that people in our community continue to put others’ lives in danger by attending mass gatherings in the current climate.
‘It is in the best interest of the health and safety of everyone across the state and around Australia, to comply with the Public Health Orders, so we may see the end of lockdown.
‘Further inquiries will be made to identify those who were in attendance at today’s protest and appropriate action will be taken.
‘We thank the majority of the community for doing the right thing by staying home and staying safe – and for their ongoing support of local police carrying out their duties to protect the public.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said he is incredibly disappointed in the selfish actions of hundreds of people this afternoon around the NSW-Queensland border. ‘Communities, across New South Wales are sick and tired of the abhorrent actions of the minority. We have seen this sort of behaviour result in further lockdowns; the very thing these individuals are protesting against.
‘There is no doubt in my mind that we risk seeing lockdowns extended, affecting the entirety of New South Wales, because of actions such as what we’ve seen this afternoon.’
Officers also issued 54 Penalty Infringement Notices for breaches of the public health orders.
Proactive high-visibility patrols were conducted throughout the local area for the remainder of the day and no further Public Health Order breaches were detected.
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Someone declared an emergency, so now we get put on the front line of a global experiment. Propaganda with penalty. Divide and conquer. Deprivation of freedom carries a higher penalty than murder, what is our government doing?
Dont the people demonstrating realise that their actions will only add to the lockdowns and disruption?It is a completely useless way to get a point across by increasing the problem! Wake up folks , we all just need to do the right thing to get through this medical emergency as quickly as possible.
URGENT PETITION TO NSW PREMIER GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian – urgently take up the offer from the QLD Government to establish a border zone on the NSW North Coast NOW.
The QLD Government has repeatedly offered NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian the opportunity to create a border zone in Northern NSW so that local border residents can access both South East QLD and Northern NSW.
The fact is the people of Northern NSW would all be safer now in QLD-NSW Border Zone.
Sign the petition to tell NSW Premier – we need a Northern NSW Border Zone NOW.
SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES!!