Mr Abbott was photographed this week by a member of the public in Manly who observed him talking to a friend at Fairy Bower near the main beach.
Police have fined former Prime Minister Tony Abbott $500 after a member of the public photographed him without a mask while out in the Sydney suburb of Manly.
He was subsequently reported to NSW Police,who confirmed on Saturday the former prime minister had been issued with a fine.
“A 63-year-old man was issued a $500 Penalty Infringement Notice on Friday (10 September,2021),for failure to comply with wearing face covering directive,” police said in a statement.
“Police will allege the man did not wear a face mask while in public at Fairy Bower,Manly Beach,on the morning of Wednesday,8 September,2021.”
Tony Abbott,a former prime minister and keen surfer,has been issued with a fine for allegedly breaching public health orders.Dallas Kilponen
The person who saw the alleged breach – first reported by news.com.au – said Mr Abbott lingered and talked to his friend for an extended period.
Following confirmation of the fine,Mr Abbott said he believed he had been adhering to public health orders.
“I just want to say two things. First,I believe that I was well within the law,reasonably interpreted. But I am not going to challenge the fine because I am not going to waste police time,” he said on Saturday.
“Second,I never thought dobbing and snitching was part of the Australian character. I think as soon as we can leave this health police state mindset behind us,the better for everyone.”
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard declined to comment specifically on Mr Abbott’s fine but said everyone was subject to public health orders.
“It does not matter who you are,whatever station you have in life,there are orders. Nobody likes to have these orders,but it is to keep everybody safe and I hope people will comply with the orders,” Mr Hazzard told reporters at the daily NSW COVID-19 press conference.
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