A group of Sydney tree loppers who were doorknocking for business in the NSW Hunter region have been fined more than $30,000 for breaching public health orders.
The group of men is separate to another group of Western Sydney tree loppers who are under police investigation for also doorknocking in the region and later tested positive to COVID.
Police said they received a tip-off about the latest incident from the public via Crime Stoppers yesterday.
"Police spoke with one of the groups today, who told police they had been working in the region on weekdays and returning to Greater Sydney on weekends, including to LGAs of concern," police said in a statement.
"Inquiries revealed the 27-year-old company owner's Service NSW permit to leave Greater Sydney to enter regional NSW contained untrue and inaccurate information.
"Further inquiries revealed that the 25-year-old co-owner of the business did not have a permit to leave Greater Sydney for work purposes in regional NSW, and that other employees hadn't had a COVID-19 test prior to leaving Greater Sydney, as required under the public health order."
Police said they issued seven men aged between 25 and 61 infringement notices totalling $33,000.
All seven men were directed to return to their homes in Greater Sydney.
Police said investigations into other reports from the community are ongoing.
