'I'm the birthday boy': Police forced to break up several parties after restrictions eased
Queensland Police were forced to break up multiple house parties this weekend and issue hefty fines for violating coronavirus restrictions.
While Queensland announced some restrictions were going to be relaxed as of last weekend, including some recreational activities, large social gatherings are still not permitted, nor are house parties.
One of the house parties police crashed was a birthday party at Carrara on the Gold Coast, and to the police’s disappointment, the revellers were issued infringements two nights in a row.
Police were called to the Carrara address on May 1 at around 11.30pm after receiving a noise complaint.
One of the residents at the address was hosting a party for their birthday and a group of people aged in their 20s were celebrating.
Queenslanders are permitted to have two people over at a time, as per the Queensland Government’s guidelines.
The group admitted to police they rented the home for the sole purpose of celebrating, despite being aware of the Chief Health Officer’s (CHO) directives.
“Seven males aged between 21 and 25 were issued with infringement notices of $1,334 and a noise abatement direction was issued,” Queensland Police said in a statement.
“Disappointingly, police were again called to the residence the following night in response to a noise complaint.”
On the second night police were called to the Carrara address, they found another large group, five of which were fined the previous night.
“Who do you think you are?” a partygoer is heard asking a police officer, to which a police officer responds with the exact same question.
“I’m the birthday boy,” a man is heard telling police.
A police officer is then heard wishing the man a happy birthday.
“A further 18 infringement notices were handed out to 12 men aged between 19 and 25, and six women aged 19 to 21,” police said.
At the Carrara residence a notice to appear for obstructing an officer was also issued, in addition to the 18 pins.
“Attending crews also seized stereo equipment to ensure compliance with the previous noise abatement direction.”
Police responded to another noise complaint on May 2 and witnessed “dozens of people fleeing” the residence in Pimpama, just north of the Gold Coast.
In the video, there seems to be some confusion as to what the directives entail.
“No, they eased the restrictions last night at 12 o’clock,” one person said to police when asked if they were aware of the COVID-19 restrictions, confusing the easing of restrictions around Queenslanders being able to go out for recreational activities, which were eased Friday night.
The 28-year-old man who was hosting the gathering copped an infringement notice for failing to comply with the CHO’s directive.
Police also issued five women and four men all aged in their 20s with infringement notices after officers responded to reports of nine people celebrating a birthday in Banyo in Brisbane’s north on Saturday evening in a small unit.
An officer is conducting a headcount and then asks who out of the nine lives in the unit, to which only one person raised their hand.
Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler was frustrated to see the revellers flouting restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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“It’s especially disappointing considering the vast majority of Gold Coast residents are doing the right thing and following the rules in line with the easing of restrictions across the weekend,” he said.
“Blatant disregard of the COVID-19 directives will not be tolerated, as has been demonstrated by fines being issued on each of these occasions.”
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