News and Events

RLC in the media

Hundreds of NSW children paid off COVID-19 fines through ‘work orders’

Police have slapped NSW children with nearly 4000 fines for breaching COVID-19 rules during the pandemic, hundreds of which are being “worked off” through community work or mentoring and counselling programs.

25 July 2022

RLC in the media

Almost 4,000 children were hit with Covid fines of up to $5,000 - and now hundreds are WORKING OFF their debt to the state

More than 3800 children in New South Wales have been fined by police for breaking Covid-19 rules as hundreds pay off fines through unpaid community work.

25 July 2022

RLC in the media

Sitting in a park, riding a bike: Covid fines in NSW riddled with problems, legal centres say Primary tabs

Marginalised and disadvantaged groups bore the brunt of the state’s lockdown fines, according to community legal centres.

24 July 2022

RLC in the media

Recipient of COVID fine tells of confusion as he challenges ticket in court

With rapidly changing legislation during NSW’s 2021 Covid lockdown, business owners like Sonny Barkho became another digit within the 25,000 people who received COVID-related tickets during the month of August.

22 July 2022

A closeup of a thumb holding a fines notice that says is large blue capital letters: "Pay Now"

News

COVID fines test case launched

RLC has filed a case in the Supreme Court of New South Wales representing plaintiffs who seek to challenge the validity of their COVID-19 fines.

21 July 2022

RLC in the media

NSW government suggested children as young as 10 could work off $1,000 Covid fines

Exclusive: government rejected call by legal groups to replace Covid fines, issued to about 3,000 children, with cautions

21 July 2022

Child holds out hand containing silver and gold coins

RLC in the media

Indigenous Australians losing driving licences and face crushing debts over NSW Covid fines, lawyers say

Aboriginal Legal Service NSW urges fines for public health rule breaches be withdrawn or converted to cautions

20 July 2022

RLC in the media

How 45,000 penalty notices could be invalid

Thousands of Covid-19 fines worth millions of dollars could be ruled invalid if two Sydneysiders win a landmark test case in the New South Wales Supreme Court.

19 July 2022

RLC in the media

COVID-19 fines class action a possibility

The validity of over $56 million worth of COVID-19-related fines issued by the NSW Police is being challenged in the NSW Supreme Court.

19 July 2022

Two blue COVID masks lying in cross formation against a red background

RLC in the media

Supreme Court test case that could throw out thousands of NSW COVID fines

The validity of COVID-19 fines issued across NSW will be called into question in a court case that has the potential to invalidate millions of dollars worth of penalty notices issued during the state’s lockdowns.

18 July 2022

News and Events

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Topics

Hundreds of NSW children paid off COVID-19 fines through ‘work orders’

Almost 4,000 children were hit with Covid fines of up to $5,000 - and now hundreds are WORKING OFF their debt to the state

Sitting in a park, riding a bike: Covid fines in NSW riddled with problems, legal centres say Primary tabs

Recipient of COVID fine tells of confusion as he challenges ticket in court

COVID fines test case launched

NSW government suggested children as young as 10 could work off $1,000 Covid fines

Indigenous Australians losing driving licences and face crushing debts over NSW Covid fines, lawyers say

How 45,000 penalty notices could be invalid

COVID-19 fines class action a possibility

Supreme Court test case that could throw out thousands of NSW COVID fines

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