Tuesday 29 November 2022 06:48 AM Rohan Pank refused to pay $1,000 fine for sitting in Sydney park during Covid ... trends now
Rohan Pank knew he was doing nothing wrong by sitting on a hill in a Sydney park with his girlfriend during the Covid lockdowns in August last year.
But his encounter with four police officers who objected to the pair's presence ended up in the New South Wales Supreme Court and was only resolved on Tuesday.
Mr Pank was part of a joint action which resulted in two other Sydneysiders having their Covid fines declared invalid and an order made that the penalties be repaid.
Within hours of the landmark court breakthrough the Commissioner of Fines Administration withdrew 33,121 fines issued in similar cases.
Rohan Pank knew he was doing nothing wrong by sitting on a hill in a Sydney park with his girlfriend during the Covid lockdowns in August last year. He was nonetheless fined $1,000 but fought the penalty notice in a court case that was resolved on Tuesday
Mr Pank had been in Sydney Park at Alexandria, within 1km of his Newtown home, when he was told by police he had breached a public health order by not actively exercising (pictured, NSW police patrol a park in Sydney in April 2020)
Mr Pank had been within 1km of his Newtown home when he was told by police he had breached a public health order by not actively exercising in Sydney Park at Alexandria.
'It was a warm day, lots of people were there,' the 30-year-old video editor said. 'We knew that sitting in parks, outdoor recreation, was one of the few things that was allowed.
'A group of police officers came over and fined us for supposedly not currently exercising.'
At the time, interpretations of public health orders were constantly changing and there was confusion about the meaning of terms such as 'exercise or recreation'.
Police nonetheless issued Mr Pank with a $1,000 penalty notice which he did not believe he should have to pay. In the end, his girlfriend was not fined.
Mr Pank sought two reviews of his infringement for 'failing to comply with a noticed direction' but Revenue NSW rejected each one.
Police issued Mr Pank with a $1,000 penalty for 'failing to comply with a noticed direction' which he did not believe he should have to pay. In the end, his girlfriend was not fined
The agency first stated Mr Pank had been told by police he should not be away from his home without a reasonable excuse.
Next, it claimed Mr Pank breached a public health order by crossing into the City of Sydney from the Inner West local government area where he lived.
When Mr Pank had been sitting in the park, outdoor recreation was permitted within 10km of
