Cops swarm millionaire's mega-yacht after he and his family were given an exemption to flee Melbourne's lockdown - as they're all forced into hotel quarantine in Queensland
- Business tycoon Mark Simonds fled Melbourne lockdown for the Gold Coast
- The wealthy family was granted special exemption to leave the virus hotspot
- Health officials revoked the exemption on Tuesday and they were quarantined
A multimillionaire's super yacht has been stormed by police after he and his family were given an exemption to escape Melbourne's strict lockdown.
Construction tycoon Mark Simonds and seven others embarked on a 15-day trip from coronavirus-addled Victoria to Queensland on his 30-metre long vessel, Lady Pamela.
The luxury boat, which has its own uniformed staff, carried Simonds' wife Cheryl, his youngest son Vallence, and Hannah Fox, daughter of Linfox executive chairman Peter Fox.
It docked at six stops along the coast from August 9, before arriving at its final destination at Gold Coast Marina on Monday morning.
Melburnians are under strict stage four lockdown and are banned from entering the Sunshine State.
The luxury boat, which has its own uniformed staff, carried Simonds' (right) wife Cheryl (left), his youngest son Vallence (centre), and Hannah Fox, daughter of Linfox executive chairman Peter Fox
On Tuesday night, Simonds' exception was revoked by Queensland's chief health officer.
Police stormed the yacht and forced its wealthy occupants into 14 days of quarantine in a government-approved hotel, at their own expense.
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'Attempting to bypass or manipulate Queensland's border direction is unacceptable,' a Queensland Health spokesperson said.
A Current Affair reported that everyone on board the boat was tested for COVID-19 by a team of mobile health professionals.
A source told The Age that the exemption was granted by Maritime Safety Queensland using incomplete information, however that has not been confirmed.
Simonds Group executive Mark Simonds looked very relaxed with wife Cheryl (pictured together) during their 15 day voyage along Australia's east coast on board Lady Pamela
On Tuesday night, the Simonds' exception was revoked by on Tuesday Queensland's chief health officer. Pictured: Health officials on Lady Pamela
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the investigation on Tuesday and said Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young would look in to whether the yacht was entitled to an exemption.
'If they have been to a hotspot they have to go into quarantine just like everyone else,' Ms Palaszczuk said.
State Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski maintained the wealthy travellers were not given special treatment.
'There is a very clear process for getting exemptions to come into this state, we apply that equally to whoever that person may be,' Mr Gollschewski said.
Queensland Health medical officers (pictured third right) boarded Lady Pamela on Monday afternoon to test those on board after the vessel docked at Gold Coast Marina
Lady Pamela stopped at Refuge Cove near the southernmost point of mainland Australia on August 10.
Later stops included Eden and Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast, Corlette in the Hunter region north of Sydney, followed by Coffs Harbour.
Lady Pamela spent five days docked in a Yamba inlet where the Simonds family were reportedly spotted swimming in the river and drinking on board as they waited for approval to enter Queensland waters.
It's understood Queensland Police has been tracking the progress of the yacht since it departed Victoria and are now investigating any potential border restriction breaches.
'As this matter is under investigation, we would not in a position to comment,' a police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.
Lady Pamela made six stops along the east coast before arriving at their final destination
The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services reiterated the public health advice for Melburnians.
'You should not be travelling interstate unless it is for a permitted reason and you must comply with the rules that your destination state or territory has in place,' the spokeswoman told The Age.
'Regardless of the mode of transport, metropolitan Melbourne stage four restrictions apply to all metropolitan Melbourne residents.'
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Simonds Group, Queensland Health and Victorian Health for comment.
It's understood Queensland Police has been tracking the progress of the yacht since it departed Victoria and are now investigating any potential border restriction breaches (three passengers pictured)
Mr Simonds has worked in the construction industry for almost five decades since 1973.
He worked alongside his father Gary who founded Simonds Homes in 1949 and was engaged in the management of the business until Simonds Group Limited was listed in 2014, according to the company website.
Mr Simonds is also the deputy chairman of Simonds Consolidated, which focuses venture capital and private equity building and construction, real estate and the vocational education sector.
He and his family live in Toorak, one of Melbourne's most exclusive suburbs.
