Police have charged a 28-year-old woman from Ascot after she allegedly breached the Quarantine (Closing the Border) Directions.
The woman applied for and was granted an exemption to enter Western Australia, travelling via air from Victoria, and was due to arrive on 11 August 2020. The woman was advised that upon entry she would be issued a direction to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days, at her own expense.
It will be alleged that on 11 August 2020, the woman did not arrive at Perth Airport as initially outlined in her G2G application. Police conducted inquiries and it will be alleged on 11 August 2020, the woman was located at a residential address in Scarborough. It will be further alleged she was staying at the address with her partner.
Police will allege that sometime between 30 July 2020 and 11 August 2020, the woman entered Western Australia via road, undetected.
The woman has been charged with one count of ‘Failed to comply with a direction’, contrary to section 86(1) of the Emergency Management Act 2005. She appeared in Perth Magistrates Court today, 12 August 2020, and was remanded in custody.
Police are conducting further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s entry into Western Australia and anyone who may have assisted her. Further charges may follow as a result of the investigation.
The vast majority of the WA community are doing the right thing; however, everyone is reminded of their obligations to comply with any given direction when entering the state.
Any person who is found to be assisting an individual to breach a direction, may commit an offence under the Emergency Management Act 2005, punishable by imprisonment for up to 12 months or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals and $250,000 for bodies corporate.
