Western Australia's police commissioner has been caught out by the COVID-19 border rules he helps enforce and is self-isolating in Perth, after travelling from Sydney.
An outbreak in NSW has grown to 36 on Thursday after 11 new infections were announced - including a government minister.
Commissioner Chris Dawson says he'll miss a family wedding after spending an hour at Sydney Airport last week.
He travelled to the ACT for his first in-person meeting with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission board since November 2019.
After the Canberra meeting, Mr Dawson took annual leave in the ACT with his wife, who paid for her own travel.
The pair originally planned to fly to Canberra via Melbourne but changed their flights to travel via Sydney after an outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria.
On June 15, the commissioner and his wife spent about an hour in transit at Sydney Airport, where they changed planes.
The flight change caught the commissioner out after WA reintroduced a hard border with NSW on Wednesday following a sharp spike in locally acquired COVID cases.
Travel from anywhere in NSW was banned except for exempt travellers including senior government officials, active military personnel, federal politicians and freight workers.
Exemptions could also be granted on compassionate grounds including for West Australians who need to return home.
Those travellers must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival and present for two coronavirus tests during that period.
The order applies to anyone who has been in NSW since 12.01am on June 11, including those who have since travelled through other jurisdictions including the ACT.
As a result, Mr Dawson and his wife will self-quarantine at their home until June 30, 14 days from the date they were in Sydney.
"I understand everyone's frustration when things change in the COVID environment," Mr Dawson said in a statement.
"I have to follow the rules like any other member of the community and am regrettably missing a family wedding as a result of my quarantine requirements."
Australian Associated Press
