‘Selfish’ Bondi partygoers who flouted coronavirus restrictions to throw a wild Boxing Day rave are fined $11,000
Selfish partygoers were fined $11,000 after flouting coronavirus restrictions to throw a Boxing Day rave, amid fears backpacker parties could spark a deadly Covid outbreak.
NSW Police officers were called to a home in North Bondi, east of Sydney's CBD, after several noise complaints at about 11pm on Saturday night.
The party on Blair Street was found to have at least 40 attendees, despite current restrictions allowing a maximum of ten people indoors, but most guests ran from the house when police arrived.
Selfish revellers threw a wild Boxing Day rave on Saturday night in North Bondi (pictured, Bondi Beach) and 11 people were fined $1,000 by police officers who broke up the party
Police are continuing to investigate the rave to identify other guests at the party, which had at least 40 attendees (pictured, rule-breaking party at Bronte Beach on Christmas Day)
Officers then spoke with 11 people, including two residents and nine visitors, who remained at the home.
All 11 attendees were hit with $1,000 fines for not complying with the COVID-19 public health order.
Two women – aged 24 and 26 – and nine men – aged 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, and three aged 24 – were issued the fines.
The two residents were also given a 28-day noise abatement direction and the visitors were asked to leave the area.
NSW Police said inquiries were continuing to identify other guests who attended the party.
Coronavirus restrictions only permitted ten adult visitors in homes across greater Sydney on Boxing Day.
Three individuals and two businesses have also been hit with coronavirus penalty infringement notices since December 23 (pictured, aftermath of a beach party in Byron Bay)
Three individuals and two businesses have also been slapped with coronavirus penalty infringement notices since December 23.
NSW Police officers attended a restaurant in Newtown, Sydney's inner west, and noticed a crowd both inside and on the footpath on Wednesday.
The owner, a 45-year-old man, was fined $5,000 after officers determined he did not have a COVID Safe plan and capacity was exceeded by 27 people.
Another restaurant in Campbelltown, western Sydney, was fined $5,000 after police found the capacity had been exceeded by at least 15 people on Christmas Eve.
One 32-year-old woman from Collaroy, on the Northern Beaches, was fined $1,000 after she travelled to Bligh Park, over 50km west of Sydney, on Christmas Eve.
A 25-year-old man and 22-year-old man were also fined after police found a large crowd of people gathered in Centennial Park on Christmas Day.
NSW Police have urged anyone with information on individuals or businesses contravening COVID-19-related ministerial directions to contact Crime Stoppers.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard also slammed 'backpackers' for not 'giving a damn about the rest of Sydney' after they flouted COVID-19 restrictions to party on Christmas Day.
Some 300 revellers ignored social distancing and partied at Bronte Beach, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, before riot police broke up the party at 3pm on Friday.
Mr Hazzard said the behaviour of the partygoers was 'absolutely appalling' and could lead to a 'super-spreader event' during a press conference on Boxing Day.
'Let me tell you, that event, I am hoping, will not become a super spreader event but there is every chance that it could be,' he explained.
Some 300 Christmas revellers gathered at Bronte Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Friday for a massive party - before riot police broke up the event at 3pm