Melbourne restaurants cop heavy fines for COVID breaches

South Melbourne’s Lamaro’s Hotel has been fined $10,000 for breaching COVID-19 restrictions.

Owner of the hotel, former AFL player Paul Dimattina said they were fined for trading past the introduction of the 8pm lockdown on Thursday last week. 

According to Mr Dimattina, he wasn’t trading past 8pm but did have some friends at the hotel drinking with him and consoling him in relation to the lockdown. 

On Monday he requested privacy stating that he was struggling with a physical health condition and his mental health.

During a press conference on Monday, Victoria Police Commander Debra Robertson mentioned that a South Melbourne venue had been fined. 

“That proprietor did receive just over a $10,000 fine,” she said. “If you are in breach of any of the Chief Health Officer directions, then of course if it’s blatant and deliberate, then police will fine.”

A venue on Collins Street in Melbourne’s CBD was also fined $11,000 on the same evening for a similar offence. 

According to police, officers attended Society on Collins St after 10.30pm and “observed approximately 20 patrons eating and drinking inside”. 

“Police also spoke with the patrons and escorted them from the premises,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

Irit Jackson, 10^th August 2021