Townsville troops under military investigation for illegal house party
Queensland soldiers face an internal army disciplinary investigation after being hit with $1334 fines for breaching coronavirus restrictions over the Easter long weekend.
While police and the Defence Department have not released specific details, ABC News has reported that eight ADF members held an illegal house party in Mount Low, in the north Queensland city of Townsville.
Defence says the Townsville-based soldiers alleged to have had a party will be subject to a disciplinary investigation.Credit:Glenn Campbell
Defence confirmed in a statement that "a small number of Townsville-based Australian Army soldiers" were found to be "not compliant" with the COVID-19 isolation restrictions.
"Chief of Army has issued a directive to all personnel that they are to comply with all state and federal government directions on social distancing and COVID-19 transmission reduction," the ADF statement said.
"Defence personnel involved will be subject to disciplinary investigation under the Defence Force Discipline Act, which may include administrative or disciplinary action."
The statement said Defence took any reports of personnel not complying with COVID-19 guidelines seriously and would continue to fully co-operate with police regarding the matter.
Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said on Wednesday he was sure the ADF had processes in place.
"We will look into that and take appropriate action," he told reporters.
A total of 964 public health order infringement notices have now been issued across the state for those undertaking what was deemed to be non-essential travel, for breaching social distancing requirements, or carrying out banned business activities – including 538 over the four-day Easter long weekend alone.
Almost 30 of these have since been withdrawn after a review process that each is now subject to, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said on Wednesday.