During a 14-hour journey between three Australian states, a prominent anti-vaccine advocate claims she somehow obtained entry to two planes without a face mask or vaccination passport.
On Sunday, Anna-Rose Richards, who was banned from Instagram last year for spreading fake news about Covid-19, posted a series of Instagram stories documenting her journey from Perth to the Gold Coast via Hobart and a diversion to Hobart.
Because the state’s borders are closed until February 5, it is not possible to book a seat from there on any flights to other capital cities. When Richards found out that one of Tasmania’s planes departed every week, she seized the chance.
In her lengthy tales, she boasted about her ‘flawless strike rate’ and repeatedly stated “I know my rights” as she navigated various Covid regulations.
Before realising she might be discovered out on arrival at Hobart Airport, Richards stated that she scoured every government website and regulation to ensure she squeezed through every crack, but never actually broke any rules.
‘I get off the plane, and everyone is showing their phone. “F**k” I thought. I was instantly aware that I had unintentionally neglected a crucial piece of information.’
‘On reflection, I can see that there were a few.’
Richards neglected to take into account that all visitors to Tasmania must be vaccinated and have registered their details with the government before arrival.
‘I did not have any,’ she responded. ‘And I didn’t wear a mask.’ However, she added, ‘But I am well-informed on my rights.’
When asked why she didn’t show a non-existent vaccination passport to state border authorities, Richards stated that she remained cheerful and refused to do so.
The influencer, who claimed she was detained by four cops and threatened with hotel quarantine on the Gold Coast, said: ‘Sir, I’m not leaving this airport; I’m going to the Gold Coast and I’m not going into hotel quarantine.’
She was eventually let through the barriers after her connecting flight arrived, according to Richards.
‘I’m sitting in the Hobart departures lounge, sipping a glass of bubbles, having barely avoided hotel quarantine,’ she added.
We contacted the Tasmanian Department of Health and Richards for comment.
After making a strange speech about the government’s Covid policies and bragging about her “very rich, very powerful friends,” she took a selfie at home on the Gold Coast.
Twitter users were critical of the campaign, with one person stating that it was ‘annoying/distressing for all those [she] may infect.’
‘Throw her in jail,’ one user wrote. Another chimed in: ‘Some immuno-compromised passengers on board are undoubtedly affected. Throw her in prison.’
A range of others simply said: ‘What the f**k.’
Although Western Australia has only a dozen known active cases of Covid-19, it is conceivable for asymptomatic people to infect others with the virus.
On Monday, Queensland experienced an outbreak of more than 4,249 new infections and one death. Dr John Gerrard, the state’s chief health officer, warned that millions of residents would become infected in a few weeks’ time if precautions were not taken.
The number of patients being treated in ICU has increased to 10, while the proportion of hospitalised individuals has grown to 147 – up from 112.
Dr Gerrard added: ‘We have over 20,000 open cases in Queensland and just one patient on a ventilator last night.’
‘We’re all going to be exposed in the coming weeks. Even if you’ve already received two doses of the vaccine, you may still become infected. That is why it is so important to get the third vaccination.’
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