'Our focus will be enforcement': Aussie state issues $5,000 warning
NSW business owners and community organisation leaders have been urged to follow state public health orders, or risk being dealt a $5,000 on-the-spot fine.
Further restrictions were eased for the state of New South Wales on 1 July that allows pubs, restaurants, cafes and weddings to hold any number of people so long as they stick to the four-square-metre rule.
Sports stadiums are allowed to hold 10,000 fans and community sport can resume for both kids and adults.
The number of people allowed to take public transport has also doubled to 68 on a train and 23 on a bus.
Also read: July changes to NSW COVID-19 restrictions
But NSW Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said that public health and safety had to remain the number one priority.
“Allowing businesses to safely reopen is a significant boost for the economy.
“However we can’t be complacent,” he said. “Businesses have a responsibility to protect staff and customers by ensuring their venues and premises are safe.”
Dominello hinted that a greater number of fines would be handed out to businesses this month.
“Our focus in June was on educating industry about the rules; our focus in July will be enforcement,” he said.
“Businesses must adhere to strict standards – for many businesses recording customer names and phone numbers for contact tracing purposes is a non-negotiable.”
How much can you be fined?
In order to limit the spread of the coronavirus, governments have to issue public health orders to ensure people stick by the rules.
Breaking these carry hefty consequences.
If you’re a business owner in NSW caught breaching these orders, you might not be able to afford the fines.
“Any business found in breach of the public health orders will be held to account and could face a penalty of up to $55,000 or an on the spot fine of $5000.”
Several types of businesses are required to have a ‘COVID-19 Safety Plan’.
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