LIMESTONE Coast retail workers have been facing abuse from customers refusing to wear masks.
A service station attendant, who did not want to be named, has told The Border Watch that, in the first half an hour of one shift, she was abused three times for asking customers to wear marks and she is aware of other shop assistants experiencing similar behaviour.
She said she has asked people who are not wearing masks, and claiming to have an exemption, to provide evidence – some do while others are abusive and refuse to do so.
“On average I get abused three to four times a day – some of which is vile,” she said.
“We are not required to have a Covid-19 marshal as there is only one of us on duty.”
She said it’s pointless ringing police as the abuser would have well and truly left by the time police arrive.
“It’s mainly middle-aged men and all have Victorian number plates on their cars.
“Younger people and women who walk in without a mask either put one on when reminded, or purchase a mask for $1,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to the end of holidays.”
Limestone Coast Police Superintendent Campbell Hill said the amount of disputes is low given the size of our population.
“The community should allow the existing processes – such as Covid marshals – to work through,” Supt Hill said, discouraging members of the community to engage with those not adhering to the restrictions.
“People really need to adhere to the health advice, which is no secret – we are into 2022 and masks have been around for quite awhile.
“For a mask to be effective it has to be covering the mouth and the nose and if people are going to go to the effort of wearing it, they can adjust it a couple of centimetres and wear it properly so it is efficient in doing the job it is supposed to do.”
He reminded people across the region that some people may have a legitimate reason not to wear masks in public.
“What we would ask the community to bear in mind is that there are people that have got exemptions from wearing masks and they are not required to wear a badge to articulate why that might be,” Supt Hill said.
“What we don’t want to see is people getting involved in altercations or berating other patrons about not wearing a mask because there could be a very legitimate reason.”
Mount Gambier City Council Mayor Lynette Martin said she was disappointed to hear that shop assistants are being abused for requesting clients to wear masks while in store.
“Throughout this pandemic we have been proud of the fact that as a community we have worked together to keep each other safe and now more than ever in this next phase, as we learn to live with Covid, we need to be even more vigilant and remember to physical distance, wear masks and practice good hygiene,” Ms Martin said.
“Shop assistants are requesting the wearing of masks for their personal protection and for your protection.
“I encourage everyone to be considerate to one another in these trying times.”
Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce president Hayley Neumann asked that people do the “right thing” to protect staff and customers.
“Be kind and respectful- the last thing we want is for businesses to close,” she said.
Breaching current directions may result in an on-the-spot fine of $1092.
A spokesperson from SAPOL in Adelaide said: “Throughout the pandemic, police across the State have taken an education-first approach to breaches with emergency directions.
“We have found that the overwhelming majority of non-compliance has been accidental or inadvertent, and once police speak to the person or business involved, they are quick to modify their behaviour and comply with the rules.
“We recognise that some things can change quickly and we appreciate it can take some time for people to become familiar with new requirements.
“Expiation notices have been issued where the breaches have been blatant or deliberate.”
For the 24 hours up to Monday afternoon, 14 expiations had been issued to individuals by police for breaches across the State.
Of those, seven were fines and seven were cautions.
For the duration of the pandemic thus far there have been 6494 expiations issued, of which 2088 were fines and 4406 were cautions.
Of the total, 4735 were issued to individuals, 1759 to businesses.
Health directions require a mask, covering the mouth and nose, to be worn in shared indoor public places.
