Most people who have received $1000 COVID-19 fines for breaching social distancing rules have not paid or can’t afford to pay them, leading to calls for a means-tested system and review of police conduct.
Fewer than a quarter of the 1854 fines police issued in 14 months since they were introduced have been paid in full, figures obtained by the Redfern Legal Centre under freedom of information laws reveal.
The figures show NSW Police issued the fines between January 1, 2020, and February 24 this year, including to children. The data reveals 22 per cent of the fines — about $415,000 of the total $1,854,000 owing — had been paid in full.
Of 246 fines reviewed, 206 were upheld, 12 withdrawn and 13 people were cautioned.
Sydney University law professor Simon Rice is among those who have elected to test the fine in court. He alleges he was wrongfully fined for being a bystander at a rally outside the university last October. He is also considering suing police for alleged use of excessive force in kicking him to the ground while making the charge.
After he asked police why they roughly handled one of the protesters, Professor Rice said he was grabbed from behind by both arms and frog-marched across the road.