Two Lismore venues have been issued $5,000 fines following non-compliance with COVID-19 Public Health Orders.
About 11.45pm on Friday 21 August 2020, police were called to a hotel on Keen Street, Lismore, following reports a 20-year-old woman had been glassed.
The woman was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment, while a 27-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station.
She was charged with reckless wounding and granted conditional bail to appear at Lismore Local Court on Monday 21 September 2020.
As a result of their investigation, licencing officers from Richmond Police District commenced inquiries into potential breaches of the NSW Liquor Act (2007) and potential breaches of the current COVID-19 Public Health Orders.
Police will allege staff failed to eject a highly intoxicated person from the premises, while other patrons were not seated and were mingling between groups with no physical distancing on Friday 21 August 2020.
As a result of these breaches, the 67-year-old male licensee was issued with two Penalty Infringement Notices yesterday (Monday 24 August 2020) for the offences of:
- Licensee permit intoxication on licensed premises - $1,100
- Not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID 19 – Corporation – $5,000
Richmond PD licencing police also attended a second licensed premises on Keen Street on Saturday 22 August 2020 as part of ongoing business inspections in relation to COVID-19 Public Health Orders.
Police will allege patrons were not signing into the venue, whilst also standing and mingling between groups with no physical distancing being observed. The venue also had an expired COVID-19 Safety Management Plan, and had previously received a warning from police for not having a plan in place.
Following further inquiries, the 60-year-old male licensee was issued with a $5,000 Penalty Infringement Notice for failing to comply with the noticed direction today (Tuesday 25 August 2020).
Licencing police will continue to enforce compliance checks at licensed premises and other venues across the state, to ensure the Public Health Orders are being adhered to.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is treated in strict confidence.
