Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been hit with two fines for breaching COVID-19 restrictions.
Mr Andrews was filmed walking through the state parliament’s car park without a mask on Thursday 7 October.
He also did not wear a mask as he approached the media on Wednesday 6 October.
On both days, Mr Andrews wore a mask as he was driven to parliament but took it off before he walked through the car park.
“Victoria Police can confirm it has issued two infringement notices to Premier Daniel Andrews for breaching Chief Health Officer directions,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“Premier Andrews received two fines today (8 October) for not wearing a mask, each to the value of $200.”
Currently, Melburnians aged over 12 must wear a fitted face mask whenever they leave their home, indoors or outdoors, unless a lawful exception applies, including for broadcasting purposes.
In a statement earlier on Friday, Mr Andrews apologised and said he would pay a fine if police issued one.
“I am aware that as I approached two press conferences at the back of parliament house this week I removed my mask after leaving the car, before I walked to the back doors,” Mr Andrews said in a statement before the fines were issued,” he said.
“I expect Victoria Police to assess this and if they choose to issue a fine, of course I will pay it.
“If they do not issue a fine I will donate the same value to a charity working to support people in this pandemic because whilst this was an oversight, oversights matter – everyone needs to follow the rules and I am sorry it occurred.”
Treasurer Tim Pallas defended the premier, who he said has been “pretty diligent in terms of his behaviour” throughout the pandemic.
“I had a brief look at the footage and it looks like he is approaching a camera for the purpose of doing a piece to camera. You are allowed to not wear a mask for that and we will leave it at that,” he told reporters at the daily COVID-19 briefing on Friday.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said most Victorians had “momentarily forgotten a mask” but noted Mr Andrews walked “some distance” without wearing his.
“He’s done it in front of media, which is probably a bit silly but I will leave that to police,” he said.
