A south-western Sydney venue operator will be fined $5000 for a major breach of public health orders by allowing up to 700 guests to attend a wedding.
Between 600 and 700 people were at the wedding in Fairfield at the weekend, double the amount of patrons allowed for the venue under New South Wales' coronavirus restrictions.
A furious NSW Police Minister David Elliott said the situation was "baffling".
The operator, a 46-year-old man, will be fined $5000 for the "high-level breach", he said.
"The police will ensure he gets the $5000 (fine)," Mr Elliott told Today.
"He can challenge that and risk himself six months in jail."
NSW Police Media confirmed the fine this morning, saying the licensee went to Fairfield Police Station yesterday afternoon.
"He was issued a $5000 PIN for failing to comply with noticed direction s7/8/9-COVID-19-Corporation," a statement said.
The wedding was held as NSW announced the mandatory wearing of masks inside many venues, with those who refuse risking a $200 fine.
"It is baffling that somebody would breach it (the public health order) so badly," Mr Elliott said.
"This isn't one or two people coming from an area in lockdown or, you know, this isn't a dozen people that turned up unannounced, this is twice the amount of people that were allowed to attend that wedding reception in an area not far from Berala."
The COVID-19 cluster in Sydney's western suburbs has grown, with eight new cases being recorded yesterday.
One the main areas of concern is Berala, centred around a BWS liquor store, where an estimated 1000 customers were served on Christmas Eve.
"It is not about the fines or the punishment, this is about compliance, and people need to realise the police are enforcing a law to keep them healthy," Mr Elliott said.
"We don't want to go back into lockdown. That's why we have introduced these Public Health Orders and I'm very disappointed that the Fairfield police area command has had to go through that over the last 48 hours.
"It is time that western Sydney needs to be well and truly on its game when it comes to complying with Public Health Orders. This just does not make sense."
As a result, he said, there was now "potentially 700 people that have to monitor their own health and probably go and get a COVID test".
https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/venue-fined-after-700-guests-attend-wedding-recept/embed?style=cover
Barely two weeks ago, a Northern Beaches bride was among 21 people fined for allegedly breaking coronavirus lockdown rules to attend a Sydney wedding.
The venue, Doltone House at Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont, told 9News they were informed by the couple they had not broken lockdown rules and had been staying outside the Northern Beaches.
At the time, the Northern Beaches was under lockdown with residents unable to leave under the public health order.
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