The NT Government has moved to re-establish a highway checkpoint on the Barkly Highway at the Queensland border after two cases of COVID-19 were reported on the Sunshine Coast and following four Victorian travellers in their 60s being fined $5,000 after failing to lodge the Northern Territory’s border entry forms on Wednesday night, NT Police said.

Authorities found that the group had also been picked up by the Western Australia Police on Tuesday and were issued infringements for also failing to lodge the required travel forms for that state.

“It is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they are aware of travel requirements for their destinations and to ensure they have lodged the necessary forms,” NT Police Acting Commander Sachin Sharma said.

Cdr Sharma said the two vehicles used by the travellers were found to be registered in Victoria after it was captured on the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system crossing into the NT on Wednesday.

He said the vehicles were located in Timber Creek in the afternoon.

He also said police found that the travellers first entered the NT on May 30, and at that time their home locations in Victoria were not declared hotspots.

“They had not been at any exposure sites and were not subject to any quarantine rules,” he added.

“It must be made clear that these infringements have been issued for not lodging the required travel forms.”

“It beggars belief that individuals have taken such a casual approach towards legal requirements imposed by the NT Chief Health Officer.”

Meanwhile, authorities said a control point on the Barkly Highway at the border with Queensland will be re-established Thursday following two cases of COVID-19 being discovered on the Sunshine Coast.

NT Police said they will continue to monitor the South Australian border although there are no active cases in that state and there remains a hard border with Victoria providing the Territory with an “extra layer of protection.”

Cdr Sharma urged Teritorians to report any possible breach to police on 131 444 or report online at pfes.nt.gov.au/reportonline.

The penalty for failing to abide by the Chief Health Officer Direction’s on coronavirus management is $5056 for an individual and $25,280 for a business.