The Melbourne partygoers were hit with a $26,000 fine after being discovered holding an illegal 16 person birthday party.
Suspicions first arouse for two paramedics whilst they were ordering a KFC takeaway. At around 1:30am, the paramedics overheard an order of twenty meals. Considering Melbourne’s strict lockdown measures, they became suspicious that a large gathering may be occurring.
The two customers were spoken to, after which the paramedics reported their suspicions to the police. Through the knowledge of the customers’ car registration number, the police were able to follow them back to their house.
At the house, the police found sixteen people hiding within the house and back garden. Reportedly, they had been celebrating a birthday party.
On the 7th of July, Melbourne hit a new high of 191 new coronavirus cases, so the Victorian premiere, Daniel Andrews, returned the city to ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions. This meant making large gatherings illegal again.
Therefore, the partygoers were in clear breach of the rules. Sixteen fines were handed out, clocking up a total of $26,000.
As Victoria’s Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton put it:
“That is absolutely ridiculous that type of behaviour, and it’s a very expensive night. That’s $26,000 that birthday party is costing them. That’s a heck of a birthday party to recall and they’ll remember that one for a long time.”
Are the fines in Melbourne working to stop illegal activity?
The hope is that fines like these will deter citizens from breaking lockdown restrictions and aid the slow of the virus. Yet, this incident wasn’t the only example of broken rules since the new restrictions were brought in.
ABC News Australia reports that officers have issued sixty fines since the restrictions were enforced for illegal behaviour. Patton warned last week that officers have been instructed to be less lenient when giving out fines in comparison to the last lockdown.
Premier Daniel Andrews made the point that Melbourne may be in lockdown longer than six weeks if citizens refuse to comply with the rules – as these KFC partygoers did not – and suggested all Victorians need to work together to benefit the whole.
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