‘Violated’: Boxing champion’s big claim about Covid restrictions

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‘Violated’: Boxing champion’s big claim about Covid restrictions

A former NRL star turned boxing champion said he felt “violated” by public health regulations during the Covid pandemic, so he acted “a bit defiant” when he allegedly flouted the rules.

Anthony Mundine is accused of failing to scan a QR code to check in to a Bunnings Warehouse in Kingsgrove, in southern Sydney, on July 20 2021, during a state lockdown.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charge of not complying with a Covid notice direction.

CCTV footage played in Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday showed the 49-year-old walking into the store without pausing to sign into the venue as required by state regulations.

Camera IconAnthony Mundine is fighting a claim he did not scan a QR code when going into Bunnings during the Covid pandemic. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia

He was approached by two Bunnings employees wearing fluorescent yellow vests but he waved them off after a very brief interaction, the video revealed.

The retired athlete, who is known as ‘The Man’, is then seen to have a conversation with another employee as he was leaving the store while clutching his purchases.

The surveillance footage showed he wasn’t wearing a face mask, and the court heard he was medically exempt from doing so.

“I can’t wear them, bro. I got breathing problems,” he told police when they knocked on his door that evening.

Body-worn cameras captured the conversation between police and the former St George Illawarra Dragons player in which he admitted he hadn’t checked into the store.

He then called an acquaintance known as “Nige”, who he believed was a lawyer and who he said had previously advised him on his rights in relation to Covid restrictions.

Mr Mundine told the court he was “pumped up by all the information” about the regulations when he was stopped by the Bunnings employees and asked to check in to the store.

“Given the information I was given by Nige, I thought that was a violation of my rights as a man,” he said.

“I’m probably a bit defiant in that sense.”

Camera IconMr Mundine (left) with his barrister Christopher Parkin (right) outside Bankstown Court. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia

The three-time world champion boxer told the court he didn’t deny not signing in to the store, but he thought it was within his rights to refuse.

“I felt violated. My rights were violated. I felt wrong done by,” he explained.

“I like to lead, and I thought I was doing the right thing, but obviously I wasn’t.”

If the same situation presented itself now, Mr Mundine said he would “do what needs to be done” and comply with the request to check in.

“The knowledge I have now differs to what I had in the past,” he said.

The main issue in contention is whether Mr Mundine had a reasonable excuse for believing he didn’t have to follow the Covid restrictions imposed during the statewide lockdown.

Police prosecutor Yavin Kumar said the professional boxer’s explanation for his actions didn’t meet any of the reasonable excuses outlined in the legislation.

However, Magistrate Glenn Walsh argued that exceptions included in a ministerial direction – which holds a lesser status than legislation – “are not the same as a reasonable excuse.”

Mr Kumar maintained Mr Mundine should have informed himself about the statewide regulations and could not rely on the defence that he was “offered misguided information” by Nige.

Yet Mr Mundine’s barrister Cameron Parkin argued his client had a reasonable excuse for his actions because they were based on information that a reasonable person may have believed if given advice by someone they thought was a lawyer.

“He accepted that (advice) as a matter of fact,” Mr Parkin said.

Mr Walsh questioned whether it could be inferred that Mr Mundine was willing to accept advice that supported the view he already had about Covid rules.

He will hand down his decision about Mr Mundine’s alleged breach of Covid regulations next month.

It will be the boxer’s sixth time returning to court over the charge, which was laid against him three years ago.

Outside court, the boxer told NewsWire it was “unfortunate” the matter “didn’t finish today”.

“Hopefully we’ll get the result we want,” he said.

“I still feel positive.”

Camera IconThe former NRL player has been vocal about his views on Covid vaccinations. Instagram Credit: News Corp AustraliaCamera IconThe retired athlete is currently focusing on community work. NCA NewsWire / Jenny Evans Credit: News Corp Australia

The 49-year-old has touted his anti-vaccination views on social media, telling his tens of thousands of followers to “do your research, it’s a death wish”.

In February, he shared a photo of himself lying on the ground underneath a vaccination syringe with the caption “the writing is on the wall” with two skull emojis.

Mr Mundine rose to prominence as a rugby player after he signed with St George Illawarra Dragons at the age of 18.

He sensationally made the switch to boxing in 2000 and went on to win three world titles.

On Tuesday, the court heard he now focuses on empowering communities and workplaces through workshops run under his Mundine Mindset program.

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