Over the weekend, Queensland police shut down a series of house parties held in breach of the state's coronavirus restrictions, issuing thousands of dollars in fines to attendees.
The police have now released body camera footage from a few of the house parties in question, including one house party at Carrara which had to be shut down twice -- once on Friday night, and once on Saturday.
Police were initially called to the party following a noise complaint on Friday night, and officers issued seven people with infringement notices of $1,334. Following a second noise complaint on Saturday night, police returned to the same house to issue a further 18 infringement notices.
Body camera footage from the second party on Saturday night shows one partygoer asking the cops "who do you think you are?".
"Who do you think you are?" a police officer responds.
"I'm the birthday boy," the partygoer says.
In a separate incident on Saturday night, police footage shows a party underway in a strobe-lit suburban garage at Pimpama.
In the footage, one attendee can be seen telling police "nah, they eased the restrictions last night, twelve o'clock".
"Not to have a party, mate," the cops reply.
On the weekend multiple states, including Queensland, did ease coronavirus-related social restrictions. However, in Queensland, as in NSW, the eased restrictions do not allow for house parties or large gatherings with friends.
“This type of behaviour puts all Queenslanders at risk,” Queensland Police Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said.
“It’s especially disappointing considering the vast majority of Gold Coast residents doing the right thing and following the rules in line with the easing of restrictions across the weekend.
“Blatant disregard of the COVID-19 directives will not be tolerated, as has been demonstrated by fines being issued on each of these occasions.”
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
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