Mother fined $5,000 for breaching quarantine and buying food for children

A woman who breached a mandatory two-week quarantine in Perth has been fined by the Perth Magistrates Court under the WA's Emergency Management Act.

A view of the Magistrates Court on Hay Street Perth, Western Australia Source: AAP Image/Tony McDonough

A family of five including three children moved to Perth from Sydney last month when the husband found a job in the western state.

As per the law, they were self-isolating in a local apartment in East Perth and were ordering food online.

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Highlights:

• A mother is fined for breaching self-quarantine in WA
• She was fined $2,500 for breaching the quarantine on two occasions
• Solicitor of the family, Robert Lombardi says the mother is remorseful of her action

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Anyone who visits or come to Western Australia is required to undergo 2 weeks of self-quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But during a check by the police at the apartment, it was found that the mother had gone to buy grocery and essential items from a shop across from the apartment.

The police also found that the mother had breached the quarantine two days earlier.

The lawyer of the family, Robert Lombardi told SBS Urdu that at both times the mother went only for a brief period of around ten to twenty minutes but did breach quarantine.

“She is remorseful about the incident that is why she pleaded guilty and that is what we explained to the magistrate that she is sorry but she was put in a difficult position."

The court was told that the mother went to buy groceries out of concern for the young children rather than wait for the online order to come in 24 hours time.

The woman was charged for failing to comply with the WA Emergency Management Act on two occasions. Perth’s Magistrate fined the mother $2,500 for each breach.

The maximum penalty for the breach is $50,000 in the western state or 12 months in jail for each breach.

Mr Lombardi says the family, that moved from Pakistan to Australia, is pleased with the outcome as it could have been a “lot worse.”

The family has now moved from the apartment to a house in Perth.

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