NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin has been slapped with a $1,000 fine after he visited his holiday house in breach of the state’s tough lockdown restrictions.
He’s now the first politician to be penalised for flouting social distancing rules.
Harwin was spotted at his Pearl Beach holiday house on Wednesday afternoon, but denied any wrongdoing. It came after authorities told everyone not to go away over the Easter long weekend.
“If his excuse doesn’t cut the mustard he’ll get the fine,” Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said earlier on Thursday morning, before the fine was issued.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian apologised on behalf of the government, adding that Harwin had relocated to the Central Coast property before the restrictions were put in place.
“He made that decision prior to the restrictions to say that is where he would base himself. For his own personal health reasons I will let him explain that. He only advised me that a few days ago,” she said.
“It is not just about sticking to the rules but it is also about being perceived back to the rules. He is either in Sydney or on his way back to Sydney.”
https://twitter.com/tiffgenders/status/1248020234402856962
Harwin also apologised but made no mention of calls for him to resign.
“I have no desire to cause a distraction for the Government at this important time and have returned to my Sydney home,” he said in a statement on Thursday morning.
He said he had been staying at his holiday house for around three weeks, long before the ban on non-essential travel was put in place.
The Prime Minister, Premier and police have all urged Australians to stay home and not travel during the coronavirus pandemic, so people were understandably pissed when the news first broke.
Don Harwin: stay at home unless you absolutely have a holiday home https://t.co/lWoUQYM635
— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) April 8, 2020
One rule for everybody, another for NSW arts minister Don Harwin https://t.co/jUMnfcGQkH
— Michaela Boland (@michaelamarea) April 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/bueller_tom/status/1247994548082507776
