"That's life": Barnaby Joyce fined for mask breach after being dobbed in
Barnaby Joyce has been fined $200 for not wearing a mask while paying for petrol at a service station in Armidale after he was dobbed in by a member of the public.
The newly reinstated deputy prime minister recounted the story to Sky News's Alan Jones as he waved his disposable mask in the air.
“The other day, you’ll like this story, I went into the Caltex service station, I was going to the airport, I forgot to get fuel for Vikki, fuelled the car up with fuel, went in, 30 seconds later, 200 bucks it cost me, because I didn’t wear one of these.
“But that’s life.”
Police confirmed a $200 penalty notice was issued to a 54-year-old man found to be breaching the public health order in the state's north-west.
The New South Wales police deputy police commissioner Gary Worboys spoke to media on Tuesday that after officers made inquiries into the tip, Joyce was issued the fine.
“That person was apologetic and cooperated with police being firm and fair,” he said.
“Police are rostered 24/7 right across the state and they will take action, and certainly the incident at Armidale is clear evidence that police will investigate and take action.”
Joyce returned as deputy prime minister three years after he resigned in 2018 over an accusation of sexual harassment, which he has denied.