Coronavirus: Three who crossed SA border for 'medical emergency' fined for quarantine breach

Three Victorian travellers that entered South Australia under the guise of a medical emergency only to flout quarantine requirements have been convicted and fined thousands of dollars.

Elissa Griffiths, 32, her brother Matthew, 36, and Thomas Forster, 35, crossed the border in a blue Holden Rodeo ute at Yamba about 5pm Saturday.

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One of the travellers allegedly claimed to need urgent medical attention, but then failed to visit the medical centre they nominated in South Australia.

Police later located the two men hundreds of kilometres away from the nominated medical centre, allegedly having a beer at the Mawson Lakes Hotel in Adelaide's north.

A magistrate today labelled the move as "serious and blatant" after the court heard the trio, who are from Mildura, was given an exemption at the border so Mr Griffiths could get treatment at the Riverland Hospital.

All three people were today convicted and received fines of more than $3000. The maximum penalty is $20,000.

It comes as the state opposition will look to introduce laws this week that allow jail time to be handed down as a sentence for people who flout border quarantine requirements.

Premier Steve Marshall said his government would consider the move.

The three people are tonight being driven back to Yamba, near the SA-Victoria border, where they'll have to then return home from and organise other arrangements to have their car returned to them.