Videos on social media shows large groups breaking Covid regulations
Holiday makers could be deported if they breach coronavirus regulations, Australia’s immigration minister Alex Hawke has said.
Videos of a party at Sydney’s Bronte Beach on Christmas Day recently surfaced on social media, with few to none of the attendees adhering to Covid regulations.
Many of the party animals in attendance are understood to be British backpackers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJNcIMLH63q/
Australia closed its borders to everyone bar returning citizens and permanent residents back in March as the first wave of coronavirus broke out. But the government estimate that around 2 million people on temporary visas were in the country at the time.
After months of no local cases of Covid-19, Sydney is now battling to contain an outbreak which has already grown to 129 cases.
Bronte beach parties… not so much social distancing going on… pic.twitter.com/3StFoCaWB8
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) December 25, 2020
“If somebody is threatening public safety or health, their visa can be cancelled and revoked,” Hawke said on live radio.
Hawke also addressed the issue on Twitter, saying: “Visitors to this country should be aware that disobeying public health orders during the pandemic jeopardises the health and safety of others, and may threaten their visa status and end their stay in Australia.”
Visitors to this country should be aware that disobeying public health orders during the pandemic jeopardises the health and safety of others, and may threaten their visa status and end their stay in Australia. https://t.co/W0bdDhMStb
— Alex Hawke MP (@AlexHawkeMP) December 28, 2020
