Another major public meeting has raised concerns that Sidney residents are not taking social detachment seriously enough as the Northern Beaches outbreak continues to grow.
The pre-Christmas footage shows hundreds of people nearby watching the Christmas lights outside Hillsong Church in Bella Vista, northwest of Sydney.
This comes after the riot police were called in to interrupt a big party on Bronte beach in the eastern suburbs of Sydney on Christmas Day.
A concerned local resident who filmed the video and sent the footage to 7News
New South Wales reported nine new cases on Saturday, eight of which were linked to the growing Avalon Cluster – which now totals 116 cases.
With Northern Beaches blocked, the rest of Harbor City is allowed to have open-air meetings of 100 people with strict social distance measures in place.
Outside the stunning display of Christmas lights at Bella Vista, it looked like the crowd was well above capacity.
A concerned local resident who filmed the video and sent the footage to 7News.
The Daily Mail Australia contacted Hillsong for comment and is not suggesting that the church sanctioned the Christmas event.
The evangelical mega-church known for attracting large crowds has turned to live streaming services with venues and places of worship in NSW with only 300 people allowed on site, subject to the one person per square meter rule.
The evangelical mega-church known for attracting large crowds turned to live streaming services (Hillsong church in Bella Vista, Sydney)
An impressive display of reindeer is photographed outside the Hillsong church in Sydney
An impressive display of Christmas baubles is depicted outside the Hillsong church in Sydney
On Saturday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard criticized “backpackers” for not “giving a damn about the rest of Sydney” after they breached COVID-19’s Christmas party restrictions.
Some 300 partygoers ignored social detachment while partying on Bronte beach, in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, before the riot police interrupted the party at 3 pm on Friday.
A 25-year-old man received a Notice of Appearance to the Court for allegedly failing to comply with a police order.
Mr. Hazzard said that the behavior of the revelers was “absolutely terrible” and could lead to a “super-propagating event” during a press conference on Boxing Day.
It turns out that Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia have banned all Sydney residents from entering their states until coronavirus cases are zero.
About 300 Christmas revelers (pictured) gathered in Bronte Beach, in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, on Friday for a big party – before the riot police stopped the event at 3pm.
“People in Northern Beaches have done their part to keep not just themselves, but also the rest of Sydney safe,” said Hazzard.
“It is absolutely amazing to see what was clearly a group of people, a great gathering of people, that didn’t give a damn about the rest of Sydney.
‘Let me tell you, this event, I hope, will not become a super publicity event, but there is every chance that it can be.
“In the early stages of the pandemic, we had some challenges with backpackers, with backpackers who clearly wanted to party in the eastern suburbs – this cannot go on.
‘There is still a big risk for us with COVID, and my message to those people and people who know any of these people, is to tell them to stop, cut, or you can end the virus yourself or you can end up being part of of a super-propagating event. ‘
An over-spread event would likely frustrate the Sydneysiders, who are currently blocked from Victoria, Queensland and WA.
Other states, such as South Australia, Tasmania and ACT require Sydneysiders to be quarantined for 14 days after entry.
Only the Northern Territory allows Sydneysiders, except those on Northern Beaches north of Narrabeen, to arrive without quarantine.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard (right) criticized the ‘backpackers’ for not ‘giving a damn about the rest of Sydney’ during a press conference on Boxing Day
Broadcaster Carla Bignasca (left) assumed that all guests (right) were European backpackers and told them to ‘go back to where they came from’ on Saturday
Suspected backpackers were also attacked on The Today Show, where radio host Carla Bignasca I told them to ‘go back to where they came from’.
“We have all these fruits on the trees that need to be harvested, vegetables that need to be removed from the plantations and yet, they are sitting there being thrown and destroyed on the beach,” she said.
‘How are they supporting themselves if we have all this work for them and no one is doing anything?’
‘I understand it’s Christmas day, but go back to where you came from.’
Ms. Bignasca pointed out that the virus is ‘virile and disabling’ in Europe, while Australia is doing much better.
“If they could see what’s going on at home, how good we are here – but that’s for a reason,” she said.
‘So respect the rules, respect the laws and don’t be such an idiot on the beach.’
Also appearing on the Today Show, broadcaster Brendan Jones said to ‘hunt them down and send them back to where they came from’
Richard ‘Dickie’ Wilkins said it was ‘a big assumption’ that all revelers were European backpackers, but he agreed.
“Wherever they are from, there are separated families, people in border cities who cannot cross the border,” he said.
Also appearing on the Today Show, broadcaster Brendan Jones said to ‘hunt them down and send them back to where they came from’.
‘Send them to Cottees (Cordial), my father picks the fruit, my backpacker picks the fruit. Do it, ‘he said.
A young man who reportedly attended the party is expected to appear in court for failing to follow police instructions to leave the area.
“A 25-year-old man has received a Notice of Appearance to the Court for failing to comply with a change order,” a NSW Police spokesman told the Daily Mail Australia.
‘The rest of the crowd obeyed and left the area.
“The police remind the community that the park is an area where alcohol is prohibited.”
Social distance was non-existent in Bronte, as the crowds danced together
The images appeared on Friday showing partygoers in Bronte wearing festive Santa hats, dancing together and on each other’s shoulders in a large crowd, while the Sydney outbreak increased to 118 confirmed cases.
There were no face masks and there was no social distance.
Hazzard immediately called the group ‘ignorant’ for spreading the deadly disease on Friday.
“I feel the desire for the exuberance of youthful Christmas, but this is as irresponsible, ignorant and stupid as possible,” he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘It is a COVID-19 incubator with enormous potential.’
Social media users also expressed anger at the filming, as many families were forced to separate due to the latest outbreak.
“I’m not sure if these people received the COVID memo,” a concerned local wrote a video of the disturbing scenes.
The revelers were seen together in a huge crowd and few masks in sight
Another added: ‘I’m not the Christmas Grinch and I don’t envy anyone having fun after the year we had, but am I missing something? How is it that only 10 people in a house, but more than 200 people nearby in Bronte? ‘
Police were seen trying to disperse the crowd and ordering revelers to move in another video posted on Instagram.
NSW police confirmed that officers were called to Bronte at around 3 pm and were aided by Public Order and Riot Squad.
“The police were called to disperse a large crowd at the scene,” a spokeswoman told the Daily Mail Australia.
Only 10 people can meet inside the house, however, up to 100 people can meet outside in Greater Sydney. There are believed to be more than 300 people celebrating together in Bronte.
Police stayed on Friday night to keep an eye out for a handful of partygoers who chose to stay.
Police watch a group of people gathering in large numbers next to Bondi Beach on December 25, 2020