Three’s ‘A Gathering’
Timothy Trotman
Tuesday 1 March 2020
On Sunday night, Prime minister Scott Morrison announced that there were to be no gatherings in public spaces that exceeded two people at any one time.
People in different states will be held accountable in various manners, as punishments differ between them. However, numerous governments are said to be issuing hefty fines for those who disobey the rule.
This new order does not affect households or families due to already being in close proximity with one another.
Penalties that have been confirmed include; New South Wales, $1000 fine or 6 months in jail, Queensland, $1652 fine, Victoria, $1334.50 fine and Western Australia, a $1000 fine.
In fact, as of 10:20 pm on Monday night, NSW health minister Brad Hazzard signed the NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020 which now makes it against the law for people to leave their residence for reasons other than their 16 “reasonable excuses”.
Some of these “excuses” include: to travel to work or out of home education (stuff that can’t be done from home), exercise, “obtain food or other goods and services”, medical or caring reasons, to donate blood, or to access public services which include but are not limited to welfare or domestic violence.
If you wish to know more, check out the official website at health.gov.au
