'Idiots': Debate over video of crowd at popular lookout

Police have been forced to disperse large crowds at a popular Queensland lookout just two days into relaxed social distancing restrictions across the state.

Hundreds descended on Burleigh Hill on the Gold Coast to watch the sunset but police arrived shortly after 6pm to instruct people to leave after a breach in current social distancing laws, Nine News reported.

Video from the popular spot show dozens of groups dotted across the sloping grass.

Many appeared to be enjoying picnics, consistent with relaxed rules that came into effect on Saturday which allowed for people to use parks and have picnics if social distancing is adhered to.

However, there weren’t changes to gathering rules which currently state households cannot meet up with others outside, and those by themselves can meet up with only one other person.

Yahoo News Australia has contacted Queensland Police for further information on whether any infringement notices were issued.

Across the state, there were 69 infringement notices issued on Sunday for breaching coronavirus restrictions.

Video of people gathered shared by Channel Nine reporter Mackenzie Colahan sparked debate on Twitter, dividing opinion on whether the large crowds of people were doing anything wrong.

“They’re clearly social distancing,” one person claimed, while others called for bird’s eye view footage to get a better understanding of how the groups were spaced out.

Yet others weren’t impressed with the actions of those who attended, with one woman calling them “idiots” online.

“Gosh people are dumb,” Nine News journalist Dominique Loudon added in the comments.

“When will people learn?” one person said, while others predicted restrictions would be tightened again or that the state could face a second wave.

Speaking on the Today show, Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll urged Queenslanders to avoid a repeat situation with Monday a public holiday.

"Please don't do that again this afternoon, there will be more police out," she said on Monday morning.

"If an area is very busy, please stay away from there so we can maintain that social distancing."

The video of the large crowd isn’t too dissimilar to the overcrowded photos of Bondi beach and the grassy knoll at Ben Buckler in late March that brought the closure of the iconic beach.

Dr Rachael Sharman, Senior Lecturer in Psychology with the University of the Sunshine Coast, told Yahoo News Australia last month such behaviour may be prompted by confusion over a continuously changing set of rules that differ state-to-state, however said the majority of people act “selfishly”.

“A number of people seem to be downright ignorant of the principle of exponential growth, so they probably look at Australia's relatively low numbers and can't figure out why we are so worried about a few thousand cases,” she said.

“To be perfectly frank, some people just don't care and have an ‘I’m alright Jack’ approach, and don't see why they should have to change their behaviour to protect someone else.”

The number of confirmed daily cases in Queensland has dropped significantly in recent weeks, including multiple days of zero cases, prompting the easing of restrictions.

On Sunday, just one case was confirmed taking the state’s total to 1035 with just 53 active cases.

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