Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has issued a stern warning to temporary visa holders, saying they risk deportation should they flout public health rules ahead of New Year’s Eve.
This comes as backpackers gathered on Sydney’s Bronte Beach on Christmas Day, a clear violation of New South Wales coronavirus restrictions.
“If people don’t do the right thing obviously there are options available to the federal government and we will look at those options very carefully if people do the wrong thing over New Year’s Eve,” Mr Hawke told Sky News.
“Australia has put itself in a great position over the last 10 months.
“We don’t want to risk public health and safety because people are flouting public health orders.”
Three new cases of Covid-19 linked to Sydney s northern beaches have been recorded overnight but three other infections outside the cluster remain unlinked.
A health official takes samples for Covid-19 tests from residents of the northern beaches in Sydney.
Photo: AFP
The three cases on the northern beaches were recorded before 8pm yesterday, and were connected to the Avalon outbreak and already in isolation.
Three other cases were diagnosed after 8pm in Wollongong, Sydney s inner west and Sydney s northern suburbs.
Contact tracers are still working to establish whether those cases are linked to the Avalon cluster and Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant said more would be known this afternoon.
BBC News
Published
media captionPeople were seen singing and dancing at Bronte Beach on Christmas Day
Australia s immigration minister has said that backpackers and other foreign visitors caught flouting public health restrictions could be deported.
Alex Hawke said he was shocked by scenes from Sydney s Bronte Beach on Christmas Day.
Videos of the gathering shared on social media showed hordes of young revellers singing and dancing in breach of coronavirus regulations.
Some eyewitnesses said many of those present were British.
Sydney is battling a new outbreak after months of no local cases.
image copyrightPETER HANNAM
image captionMost of the people present did not seem to be locals, witnesses said
Brits could be kicked out of Australia for attending lockdown-flouting Christmas bash
Footage of partygoers with English accents flouting local coronavirus restrictions has enraged Sydney officials and residents as the city grapples with a new outbreak
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