Son of Covid-infected man who sparked Byron Bay lockdown fined $35,000

A 19-year-old man who travelled to Byron Bay with his father who had Covid-19, sparking a seven-day lockdown of the area, has been fined $35,000.

Kristian Radovanovic did not appear for his sentence as he has since travelled to Serbia with his father to care for his grandmother, the Waverley local court was told on Monday.

For not using a QR code and failing to wear a mask in a general store Kristian Radovanovic was fined $5000 and $7500 respectively, and for not wearing a mask nor using a QR code in a taxi he was fined $12,500 and $10,000 respectively.

The former plasterer was already serving a community corrections order after a police pursuit while drunk-driving, and a conditional release order for affray after joining a brawl.

Magistrate Paul Mulroney said all offences involved a disregard for public health and safety.

The family packed up some belongings and travelled to Byron Bay on 31 July to inspect the land but were disappointed. The father, Zoran, made an offer on a Nimbin property on 5 August, but by this time he was having breathing difficulties he thought was his chronic asthma.

Days later the 52-year-old was admitted to hospital with the virus, subsequently leading Byron Bay and surrounding areas into a one-week lockdown in August.