Sydney men fined after sneaking into Queensland in 34m superyacht

The men were each fined for providing false or misleading information on their declaration passes that allowed them to enter Queensland without the need to quarantine for 14 days, even though they came from a declared COVID-19 hotspot.

Once the breach was discovered, all four were placed in hotel quarantine. They later all tested negative for COVID-19.

Sydney is currently in a loose lockdown as NSW grapples with a growing coronavirus outbreak fuelled by the more virulent delta strain of the virus.

Police said the men arrived at the Gold Coast's Southport marina in an unidentified superyacht on July 7 before heading up to Brisbane to watch last week’s rugby test match at Lang Park.

The vessel was one of three superyachts crossing from NSW into to Queensland waters last week, with one turned back and the other placed under a 14-day quarantine.

"A 68-year-old skipper was placed in government hotel quarantine and issued with a $4003 fine for failing to comply with a COVID-19 border direction, while another skipper was fined $4003 and turned around at the border," Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Angus Mitchell said.

"The message is clear, if you have been in a COVID-19 hotspot and you cross our maritime border, you will be intercepted and face the consequences.”

Queensland has restricted entry from greater Sydney residents since the region was declared a COVID-19 hotspot on June 21.

Maritime Safety Queensland and Queensland Water Police are patrolling the state’s maritime borders to check that boats are complying with the border closure.

For the record, the Wallabies last week defeated France 23 to 21 in a surprising late-match turnaround. The two teams meet again tonight in Melbourne for their second Test match.