Elderly Perth couple accused of illegally entering Queensland 'documented it on social media'
An elderly couple accused of breaching Queensland's tough border restrictions have denied lying on their border passes.
Charged with fraud and failing to comply with border directions, Western Australians Lawrence Gordon Petersen and Edith van Dommelen are out of hotel quarantine and fronted Richlands Magistrates Court this afternoon.
Police allege the couple falsely declared they had not travelled to a COVID-19 hotspot when they entered the state on July 27.
Lawrence Gordon Petersen and Edith van Dommelen are accused of lying on their border pass to enter Queensland. 9News
On July 25 the couple, who are professional pet sitters and document their travel on social media, left Woodend, Victoria on a "transit permit". By July 27 they had driven through New South Wales and crossed into Queensland at Goondiwindi.
Ms van Dommelen appeared to outline their itinerary in a series of social media posts.
One included a map showing their planned route from Victoria to Queensland.
The couple left from Victoria in late July. 9News
"I did say watch this space ... well confirmation that Plan C to exit Victoria, has been successfully executed and completed," one post read.
Before they were intercepted by Queensland police on August 4, Mr Petersen and Ms van Dommelen had taken an elderly friend to the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
They then headed to Kingaroy, where they visited a café and a shopping centre before police found and detained them in Nanango, about 90 minutes west of the Sunshine Coast.
Queensland has hard border restrictions in place. 9News
Outside court the couple said they did not lie on their border passes and did not know they were not allowed into Queensland.
The pair has been granted bail and are scheduled to appear on September 15, to give them time to seek legal advice.
"Looking at you I get the impression you won't run away," Magistrate Aaron Simpson said.
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