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Canberrans will face fines of up to $8000 and possible prosecution for gathering in groups, as the ACT government steps up the fight against coronavirus. However, at this stage, the ACT government will not follow NSW and start issuing fines to people who leave their home "without a reasonable excuse". Under the NSW system, introduced on Tuesday, people face six months in prison and a $11,000 fine if they leave their home for reasons other than to buy food, travel to work, exercise or for "medical or caring reasons". NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said police would no longer issue cautions for those flouting self-isolation rules - instead $1000 on-the-spot fines would be handed out. Police could also arrest and charge those repeatedly ignoring health orders, with a maximum penalty of six months in prison. READ MORE: ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has repeated throughout the coronvirus crisis that the territory would attempt to replicate NSW's approach as much as possible. However, the ACT will adopt a slightly different approach when it comes to punishing people who flout tough social distancing measures aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 The ACT will provide "strong advice" that people not go outside their home unless they need to, but won't issue fines like in NSW. The ACT will, however, start enforcing new rules which prohibit gatherings of more than two people, unless it is a family or household. Mr Barr said that in the first instance the government would "educate and warn people" about the rules and wouldn't immediately be issuing on-the-spot fines. "But if there is flagrant abuse of this, people should expect to be fined and we may also seek to prosecute," he said. Speaking at a media conference on Tuesday, Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith sought to explain why the ACT wasn't adopting the NSW government's hardline approach. "We are in a slightly different situation to NSW," she said. "Clearly in parts of NSW there is evidence of community transmission of the virus and they have taken the position to take it further. "At this point, we are not doing that ... but the option remains open." We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you're looking to stay up to date on COVID-19, you can also sign up for our twice-daily digest here. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.

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