Thousands of Aussies slapped with $1,652 fines for ‘breaking Covid rules’ could get their money BACK with many issued unlawfully after bureaucratic bungle
Thousands of Australians who were slapped with fines for breaching Covid rules could soon get their money back as an investigation is launched into whether some of the penalties were lawful.
Victoria’s Department of Justice and Community Safety confirmed that a bureaucratic bungle is now under reviewed after $60million worth of fines handed out during the state’s six gruelling lockdown.
About 39,000 long-suffering residents were hit with on-the-spot fines as Melbourne endured the world’s longest period under stay-at-home orders.
But many of the the harsh penalties implemented by Dan Andrews’ government were dished out by authorised officers – not police – who may not have had the legal power to do so.
Thousands of Australians who were slapped with fines for breaching Covid rules could soon get their money back as an investigation is launched into whether some of the penalties were lawful. Pictured: Victorian Premier Dan Andrews
Victoria’s Department of Justice and Community Safety confirmed that a bureaucratic bungle is now under reviewed after $60million worth of fines handed out during the state’s six gruelling lockdown. Pictured: Mounted Police officers patrol Flinders Street as anti-vaccine protesters rally on January 08, 2022 in Melbourne
‘We are currently reviewing our administration processes relating to the appointment of a small number of Authorised Officers and the issuing of some enforcement outcomes under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act,’ The Department of Justice and Community Safety said in statement.
‘If the review were to identify any issues, the Department would then work to confirm whether any enforcement outcomes are affected.’
Toward the end of 2020, the Andrews government hired swathes of retired police officers to enforce Covid compliance as Victoria’s frontline Covid staff became increasingly overwhelmed with the workload.
The authorised officers were granted a wide range of new powers during the pandemic made possible by a state of emergency declaration.
About 40 authorised officers were given the power to detain, arrest and fine anyone in breach of Covid restrictions including not wearing a face mask, breaking curfew, not adhering to the 5km rule, failing to implement QR codes or gathering in large groups.
‘They haven’t been declared as authorised officers. They don’t have the gazetted powers,’ a senior government source told the Herald Sun.
‘They’ve been discharging the powers of authorised officers when they don’t have those powers.’
Opposition Liberal MP and former Victoria police officer Brad Battin said the claims are yet another example of Daniel Andrews’ ‘mismanagement of the pandemic.
‘This government has a track record of not getting the basics right, because they spend too much time on PR and spin,’ he said.
‘Victorians – including the hardworking men and women hired for these difficult roles – shouldn’t be subjected to what is a farcical failure of public administration.’
The Department of Justice and Community Safety has not revealed how many penalty notices authorised officers issued during the pandemic.
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