Despicable WA Police Minister wants book thrown at Demons fans who breached border

West Australian Police Minister Paul Papalia says the actions of two Melbourne Demons fans who allegedly sneaked into the state to attend the AFL grand final were “despicable” and called for the pair to face jail time.

“These two individuals and anyone else who’s acted in that way, allegedly, are entitled, despicable criminals and I hope that the full force of the law is thrown at them,” he said.

Melburnians Hayden Burbank, left, and Mark Babbage, right, pictured with Demons player Alex Neal-Bullen, were questioned by police after allegedly breaking restrictions to travel to the grand final in Perth.Credit:

“It beggars belief that people would knowingly do this and threaten the livelihoods and the lives of millions of Western Australians â€" it’s extraordinary that someone from a state that’s suffered so extensively as Victoria has would make this move ... it’s shameful.”

Melbourne bar and restaurant owner Hayden Burbank, 49, and financial planner Mark Babbage, 39, are accused of falsely claiming to be Northern Territory residents to attend the AFL grand final in Perth on Saturday.

The pair are due to face Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, each charged with three counts of failing to comply with a direction under the Emergency Management Act.

WA Police claimed the pair used “falsified” NT licences to fly from Melbourne to Darwin on September 14 in a bid to bypass Western Australia’s border closures. They then allegedly flew from Darwin to Perth on September 22.

There are presently no border restrictions between WA and the NT, which are both COVID-free states, but anyone who has been in Victoria in the past 14 days cannot enter WA without approval.

Mr Burbank and Mr Babbage face fines of up to $50,000 or 12 months in jail for the WA breach, but could also be hit with $5000 fines for unlawfully entering the NT from Victoria.

Under current rules, only returning residents are allowed to fly into the NT from Victoria and must undergo 14 days of quarantine upon arrival.

The pair allegedly spent eight days in the NT before travelling to Perth.

A photo on the AFL’s Instagram account shows Mr Burbank and Mr Babbage alongside player Alex Neal-Bullen and Mr Babbage, inside the Demons locker rooms celebrating and drinking with players after the club’s 57-year drought-breaking win at Optus Stadium on Saturday.

The men were arrested in the South West on Tuesday morning after police made a public plea to find them on Monday night.

One of the men has since returned a negative COVID-19 test, however the other’s result has returned inconclusive, suspected to be a false-positive. Police are currently waiting for the results of a second test.

Mr Burbank has been vocal about his views towards Victorian Premier Dan Andrews as well as his anti-lockdown stance.

“Every other state is operating as normal and we are stuck in this shit show that he created,” he shared on Facebook last September.

In the week leading up to the grand final, 18,000 people applied to enter WA from interstate, with 500 of those being refused entry.

WA Police Assistant Commissioner Col Blanch said COVID investigators were checking data to identify other Victorians who may have tried to get to the WA-based grand final.

Another man, who police allege travelled from Victoria to WA via South Australia, has also been charged with failing to comply with a direction and remains in custody.

WAtoday has contacted NT Police for comment.

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