Police to combine in protest response

QUEENSLAND and NSW police are preparing a joint response to combat any protest activity to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s wild scenes at the state border.

A crowd of about 1000 people gathered at the border last Sunday protesting against Covid-19 restrictions, and while beginning peacefully in Queensland, many from NSW crossed state lines in breach of health orders.

Gold Coast police chief superintendent Rhys Wildman (pictured) said officers were ready for a protest if one was to go ahead.

“We’ve got no direct intelligence but we are preparing a joint response with NSW police around any possible protests that may occur,” he said.

“If intelligence comes to hand that there’ll be greater numbers of protesters then we’ll increase our staffing to suit. For us it’s always about keeping the community safe.

“We’re preparing for one on the weekend and if it eventuates, we’ll respond and if not, we’ll redeploy resources into other operational duties down towards the border.”

Chief Supt Wildman would not say how many resources were planned this weekend.

“What I can say is we’ve got a variety of response capabilities available to us, depending on the crowd size and behaviour,” he said.

“Any protest activity that is planned we just encourage anyone involved, including the organisers, to ensure it’s peaceful in nature.”

After last weekend’s demonstration six people were charged and almost $120,000 in fines issued in NSW to protesters for a range of health order breaches.

In Queensland a man was charged after allegedly throwing an egg into a crowd.

On Wednesday a Hollywood stuntman, who rode through the crowd on a horse and across the border during the protest, was hit with more than $7000 in fines.