Question – Issuing of COVID Infringements

Questions asked by the Hon Meg Webb MLC on 22 Aug 2022 and answered by the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency on 23 Aug 2022

Question 1:

Under the auspices of the Tasmanian State of Emergency declaration from 19 March 2020 to 26 October 2020 inclusive,
    a) How many COVID-19 related infringements were issued;
    b) What were the nature of, and penalties specified by, those infringements issued; and
    c) Were any issued to young people of the age of 18 years or younger, and if so what were the:
        (i) ages of each recipient;
        (ii) penalties prescribed to each recipient?

Answer 1:

a) The State of Emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act 2006.

Between 19 March 2020 to 26 October 2020, 21 infringement and caution notices were issued to individuals in respect to failing to comply with the directions in the State or Deputy State Controller under the Emergency Management Act 2006. The ability to issue infringements commenced in May 2020.

b) These infringements were all for failing to comply with the directions of an emergency management worker. The penalty for an individual was $756 in 2019-20, and increased to $774 in 2020-21 due to the increase in the amount of a penalty unit.

c) No infringements were issued to young people under 18 years of age.

Question 2:

Under the auspices of the Tasmanian Public Health Emergency Declaration from 17 March 2020 to 12.01am Friday 1 July 2022 inclusive,
    a) How many COVID-19 related infringements were issued;
    b) What were the nature of, and penalties specified by, those infringements issued; and
    c) Were any issued to young people of the age of 18 years or younger, and if so what were the:
        (i) ages of each recipient;
        (ii) penalties prescribed to each recipient?

Answer 2: 

a) The Public Health Emergency Declaration was declared under the Public Health Act 1997.

Between 17 March 2020 and 1 July 2022, 126 infringement and caution notices were issued to individuals and businesses in respect for failing to comply with directions made by the Director of Public Health under the Public Health Act 1997. The ability to issue infringements commenced in May 2020.

b) These infringements included failing to comply with stay-at-home requirements, fail to comply with mask requirements and non-compliant gatherings. The penalty for an individual was $756 in the first half of 2020, $774 in the financial year 2020-21 and & 778.50 in 2-21-22. This increase was in line with the increase in the penalty unit amount.

c) No infringements were issued to young people under 18 years of age.

See more of Meg’s Questions to Parliament.