French tourist is kicked out of Australia for organising an illegal New Year’s Eve rave party
French tourist is kicked out of Australia for organising an illegal New Year’s Eve rave party as eight others have their visas cancelled for breaking coronavirus rules
- Border Force issued hundreds of formal warnings and eight visa cancellations
- A French man was deported after he held a party west of Gympie over New Year
- Operation Baritone was created to ensure foreigners are following Covid rules
- The crackdown comes after hundreds of backpackers partied at Bronte Beach
A French tourist has been kicked out of Australia for his role in throwing an illegal New Year’s Eve party in regional Queensland.
The Australian Border Force issued hundreds of formal warnings, eight visa cancellations and deported several foreign nationals for breaching Covid restrictions.
‘People who are guests in our country have to do the right thing during the pandemic just as Australians must,’ Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said.
A French man (in khaki pants) was among the tourists to be sent packing, after he held a rave party west of Gympie earlier this month
The tourist (black shirt) was deported under Operation Baritone, which was created to ensure foreigners follow social distancing, quarantine and self-isolation rules
A large crowd gathered for the Bronte party (pictured) on Christmas Day. The next day, some 40 revellers gathered at a North Bondi house party on Boxing Day
A French man was among the tourists to be sent packing, after he held a rave party west of Gympie earlier this month, The Daily Telegraph reports.
He was deported under Operation Baritone, which was created to ensure foreigners follow social distancing, quarantine and self-isolation rules.
The ABF is now working with state authorities ‘to ensure temporary visa holders who violate public health orders are made accountable’.
Police Commissioner Mick Fuller earlier this week said that authorities take reports of anyone breaking Covid rules ‘seriously’.
‘There’s community expectation that if you’re sitting at home doing the right thing, listening to the messaging, then why aren’t these people?’ Mr Fuller told 2GB.
The crackdown comes after hundreds of backpackers partied at Sydney’s Bronte Beach on Christmas Day, breaching Covid restrictions on outdoor gatherings.
The party came amid a growing outbreak of Covid in the city – and infuriated Sydneysiders who fear it could lead to a spike in cases and another lockdown in the city.
The party came amid a growing outbreak of Covid in the city – and infuriated Sydneysiders who fear it could lead to a spike in cases and another lockdown in the city
NSW Police believe the event was not pre-planned, but rather a spur of the moment celebration that expanded as word spread and more foreigners were invited.
It led to Mr Hawke warning that authorities can deport any tourists and visa-holders if they are found to be flouting the law by holding mass gatherings.
A backpacker in Perth copped a $13,000 fine for skipping hotel quarantine to go to a nightclub for five hours in December.
The 25-year-old man had flown into Perth from Adelaide on December 11 and was ordered to remain in hotel quarantine for 14-days in the city centre.
The next day, a routine compliance check by WA Police found he was missing from his room and not answering his phone, leading officers to arrest him when he returned.
