Victoria Police have issued $3MILLION worth of coronavirus fines while Canberra hasn’t issued any

Is your hometown a police state? The huge number of fines handed out for breaking coronavirus rules – and one state has raked in more than $3MILLION

• State of Victoria introduced the $1,652 on-the-spot fines at the end of March 
• They have since issued 1,955 infringement notices – a total of more than $3M
• Queensland was second and New South Wales the third with 900 fines 
• ACT the only state that has not issued anyone a fine since they were introduced 
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By Sahar Mourad For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 16:28 BST, 24 April 2020 | Updated: 16:34 BST, 24 April 2020

The state of Victoria has issued the most coronavirus fines compared to the ACT which has not fined anyone. 

A slew of social distancing and quarantine regulations were introduced in March to stop the spread of the deadly virus. 

Australians were told to only go out for work, medical appointments or to go grocery shopping while mass gatherings were banned and pubs shut.   

Last month, Victoria introduced a $1,652 on-the-spot fine for anyone found to be flouting the rules.  

Since then officers have issued issued 1,955 infringement notices, a total of  $3,295,740. 

Victoria Police question a man during the coronavirus restrictions on April 20

Two Police officers riding their horses are seen patrolling The Bay Run on April 23, 2020 in Sydney

Queensland’s on-the-spot fine is $1,344 and officers have handed out 1,321 of them. It means a cash boost of $1.7 million for the Queensland government.

Coming in third is New South Wales, Australia’s coronavirus epicentre, which introduced fines of $1,000.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 6,677

New South Wales: 2,982

Victoria: 1,343

Queensland: 1,026

Western Australia: 548

South Australia: 438

Tasmania: 207

Australian Capital Territory: 105

Northern Territory: 28

TOTAL CASES:  6,677

RECOVERED: 5,136

DEAD: 79

New South Wales police have issued an overall of 900 coronavirus penalties, a total of $900,000 in fines. 

Other states saw a massive difference in the amount of fines and charges.  

Tasmania has charged 144 people while South Australia fined 119.

The Northern Territory fined 42 people while just 13 were reprimanded in Western Australia. 

The ACT is the only state that has not issued any fines or charges to date since the restrictions were introduced. 

An ACT Policing spokesperson said officers have been directed to not issue any cautions or fines until further notice.

‘These experiences are new for everyone, so it is fair and right that ACT Policing continues to educate people about the health directions and social distancing guidance,’ the spokesperson told SBS News.

‘Most people are trying to do the right thing and ACT Policing’s job is to help them do so.’

Victoria Police Protective Services Officers speak to a man at St Kilda beach in Melbourne, Monday, April 13

Victoria and Queensland Police have said they will review each fine to ensure discretion was used where appropriate.   

With South Australia’s lower coronavirus cases, the police was taking a ‘conciliatory’ approach in enforcing the restrictions .

‘It is important to note that South Australia has been able to adopt less severe restrictions than other states due to high compliance and low community transmission of the virus,’ the spokesperson said.

Australia currently has a total of 6,677 coronavirus cases with 5,136 of them recovered.

A total of 79 people have died from the deadly disease.    

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