The 33-year-old Annerley man was charged by detectives after he failed to comply with a COVID-19 public health direction when he allegedly sped through a border checkpoint at Goondiwindi.
Police say they have no compassion for those who try to break the rules and cross the border without the right pass.Supplied
About midday on Saturday,when the man tried to enter the state for the first time,police determined that he didn’t have the relevant border pass or exemption.
He was issued with an official direction to immediately leave Queensland,but instead of turning around and returning to New South Wales,police will allege he sped through the checkpoint.
Police tried to intercept the man’s car,but he allegedly failed to stop and his vehicle was last seen fleeing along the Cunningham Highway.
About 2pm,police found the man when he was involved in a single-car crash on the Gore Highway,about 25 kilometres from Goondiwindi.
He was arrested and issued with infringement notices then released from custody before being transported to the border to return to NSW.
But just before 4pm,police saw the man hitchhiking in an effort to allegedly re-enter Queensland.
Soon after the man crossed a local bridge and entered the state,police found him and he was again arrested and charged with two counts of failing to comply with a COVID-19 public health direction,evading police,and driving without due care and attention.
On Sunday,Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said an increasing number of people were trying to cross Queensland’s border.
He said that in the past 24 hours,police had processed more than 11,000 vehicles at the border and more than 3500 people at the airport.
Tuesday,October 19:Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged Queenslanders to receive at least one COVID vaccine by the end of October,in order to gain protections from the virus ahead of the pre-Christmas border opening.
“We’re seeing more and more people trying to take a gamble and cross our border. My message to you,we are checking every vehicle,” he said.
“We’re seeing vehicles that have attempted to cross the border on two or three occasions,and we are taking enforcement action against those people.
“For anyone who is wanting to have a go at crossing the border,I’ll tell you,there will be no compassion. The rule is quite clear.”
The man was denied police bail and was remanded in custody to appear in Warwick Magistrates Court on Monday.