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Mark McGowan loses it during COVID press conference over NSW sunbathers startling deer

Charlotte EltonThe West Australian
VideoWatch WA Premer Mark McGowan’s response after being asked about two naked sunbakers who were both fined for breaching NSW COVID public health orders

“Blokes sunbathing nude with a deer” wouldn’t happen in WA, Premier Mark McGowan has joked, after nude NSW sunbathers copped fines for breaching COVID-19 orders.

Two naked men got lost in bushland near Sydney yesterday after they were startled by a deer.

When police finally found the pair — after an extensive search by State Emergency Services and NSW ambulance officers — each man was fined $1000 for breaching COVID-19 public health orders.

Premier Mark McGowan said such an incident “wouldn’t happen” in Western Australia.

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“I hope the deer’s ok,” he joked.

“Seems to be a particularly New South Wales sort of condition, with blokes sunbathing nude with a deer.

“But no, certainly wouldn’t happen in WA.”

Mr McGowan continued laughing, interrupting the next question to express his incredulity.

“We don’t have deer running wild anyway, I don’t understand this, how deer are running wild over there, with naked blokes,” he said.

NSW Police chief Mick Fuller described the episode as "unbelievable" and the men as "idiots.”

VideoWatch WA Premer Mark McGowan’s response after being asked about two naked sunbakers who were both fined for breaching NSW COVID public health orders

He slammed the pair for leaving home without a proper reason.

"Then not only on top of that ... getting lost in the national park and diverting important resources away from the health operation, I think they should be embarrassed,” he said.

44 people issued with infringement notices for breaching the public health order in NSW yesterday, as the State grapples with a surge in the Delta variant of COVID-19.

Originally published as Mark McGowan loses it during COVID press conference over NSW sunbathers startling deer

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