As Victoria edges ever closer to the abyss of a new round of COVID infections, the Victorian authorities are once again struggling to differentiate their arses from their elbows. As reported earlier by The BFD, just a handful of new cases saw the government’s contact tracing regime fall to pieces. Another cluster of infections linked to hotel quarantine quickly followed.
Now it emerges that the government and its boot-boys can’t even figure out whether they’re actually going to enforce lockdown fines or not.
A mix-up in communication has led to thousands of Victorians believing they may have escaped a hefty fine for breaching the state’s strict COVID-19 rules last year.
It was understood earlier today police were told to drop the majority of unpaid fines Victorians racked up in 2020, but Victoria Police deputy commissioner Rick Nugent said a “poorly worded” internal guidance note gave the impression remaining fines would not be prosecuted – which is not the case.
“Victoria Police have not changed its policy on the issue of fines,” he said.
Victoria was not just the most draconian state in terms of lockdowns, but its police were the most drunk on their new power, handing out more fines than any other state.
Approximately 40,000 fines were issued in Victoria since the start of the pandemic.
About 3000 have been paid, while around 5700 people have “accepted guilt” and are on a payment plan, the deputy commissioner said.
He said 2400 matters have gone to court.
So, that’s just over one-third of the fines. Where do the rest stand?
The muddled communications went all the way to the police union.
Victorian Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt this morning told 3AW the decision to cancel the fines was frustrating for officers.“None of this was fun for our members. It was a bit of a thankless job,” he said.
I don’t know, they rather seemed to be enjoying themselves when they kicked down that lockdown-protester’s door, and when they body-slammed Avi Yemini, not to mention when they slapped the cuffs on that crying, pregnant mum in her own house. But, as Shooty the cop says, in The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “it isn’t easy being a cop”.
But, Victoria being Victoria, the one thing officials are really good at is shifting blame for stuff-ups.
Premier Daniel Andrews expressed frustration at the perceived call to drop fines in the state, saying it was in no way a government decision.
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And so it goes.
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