When the buses - with 128 guests and staff onboard - arrived at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo yesterday, staff called NSW Police.LIVE UPDATES:
Three busloads of tourists from Sydney arrived at Taronga Western Plains Zoo yesterday in breach of COVID-19 restrictions. Pictured is a Black Rhino calf born at the zoo and its mother.The group had left Sydney last Friday, hours before the initial lockdown of four LGAs in the city and east, and continued to travel through regional NSW after the Public Health Orders were updated on Saturday.
When the guests started to check-in at the zoo, staff realised some had been in the Greater Sydney area on or after June 21. "In discussions prior to their arrival, Taronga had received assurances from the group that they were compliant with NSW Public Health Orders, however at the point of check-in it was revealed that the group had in fact visited the Greater Sydney area," a statement from Taronga said.The company owner told police he was aware of the public health orders but decided to continue the tour as planned anyway, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said today.
"But the staff at the zoo did exactly the right thing – they isolated the risk and alerted police. They did a great job to protect the local community," Mr Worboys said.
Tour operators need their business shut down. Not just fined. Each person in breech should be fined. That money then donated to the zoo as a reward for doing the right thing. This the same day as another business operator was assisted for following regulations.
Tourists? From where? Once again you have to question who is getting into our country during this pandemic.
Taronga, what a bunch of dobbers. Very in Australian.
This is just a blatant breach of public health orders. They just tried to get away with it. No wonder we need a stricter lockdown with clearer directives. Being able to travel anywhere for the listed reasons leaves it open to being abused
FFS 🙄🙄
Taronga Zoo have sent out emails explaining they are closed to the public whilst the lockdown is in place . . no excuse for those 'guests' to show up . .