Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been fined A$400 (NZ$421) after he was caught walking to a press conference at parliament not wearing a mask.
He apologised on Friday for breaching the state's mask mandate on Wednesday and Thursday morning, which requires anyone 12 years and over to wear a fitted face mask whenever they leave their home, indoors or outdoors, unless they're exempt.
On both days, he wore a mask as he was driven to parliament but took it off before he walked through the car park.
"Premier Andrews received two fines today for not wearing a mask, each to the value of $200," police said in a statement, according to 7 News.
"These incidents occurred on Wednesday 6 October and Thursday 7 October outside Parliament House."
Andrews earlier promised to pay the fines, whether he received them or not, and to make a donation matching the penalty to a charity supporting those impacted by the pandemic.
"I am aware that as I approached two press conferences at the back of Parliament House this week I removed my mask after leaving the car, before I walked to the back doors," he said in a statement on Friday.
"I expect Victoria Police to assess this and if they choose to issue a fine, of course I will pay it.
"If they do not issue a fine I will donate the same value to a charity working to support people in this pandemic because whilst this was an oversight, oversights matter - everyone needs to follow the rules and I am sorry it occurred."
This came as Victoria reported 1890 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths on Sunday. Its cases have grown steadily since August and it is now the state recording the highest number of new daily infections.
New South Wales, which until recently was recording more than 1000 new cases a day, reported 477 new infections and six deaths on Sunday.
