Increased fines of up to $5,000 for COVID breaches, permits to enter regional NSW and a heightened police presence will be introduced, as NSW continues to battle the Delta variant.
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement on Saturday August 14.
Ms Berejiklian said the vast majority of people were doing the right thing but there are a handful of people who are willfully breaking the rules and putting the rest of the community at risk.
"The increased fines and heightened police presence are about ensuring people who are doing the wrong thing are caught and punished appropriately," she said.
Under the changes, there will be increased fines for Public Health Order breaches, a permit system to enter regional NSW and tightened rules for people in LGAs of concern to help reduce the spread of the Delta variant.
Increased fines for Public Health Order breaches from 12.01 am, Monday, August 16 include:
- $5000 on the spot fine for breaching self-isolation rules;
- $5000 on the spot fine for lying on a permit (already a criminal offence);
- $5000 on the spot fine for lying to a contact tracer (already a criminal offence);
- $3000 on the spot fine for breaching the two-person outdoor exercise/recreation rule; and
- $3000 on the spot fine for breaching rules around entry into regional NSW for authorised work, inspecting real estate and travelling to your second home.
The permit system to enter regional NSW will begin on Saturday, August 21 at 12:01 pm.
Any person who wishes to travel to regional NSW for one of the following reasons must have a permit which will be made available on Service NSW.
This includes:
- Authorised workers from LGAs of concern.
- Inspecting real estate. Any person inspecting real estate in the regions must now genuinely need a home to live in (no investment properties).
- Travelling to your second home. This is now only allowed if you are using the home for work accommodation or if the home requires urgent maintenance and repairs (if so, only one person may travel there).
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said the joint NSW Police Force and ADF operation - Operation Stay at Home - had commenced.
"These are some of the strongest powers we've ever had in the history of the NSW Police Force, as part of the government's strategy to get in front of the virus in the coming weeks - it's all about getting ahead of Delta, not chasing it," Commissioner Fuller said.
"From this week we'll be issuing $5,000 fines to people and closing premises which continue to break the health orders.
"Don't complain if this happens to you - police are over the rule-breakers."
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