The Victoria Police Facebook page has been peppered with queries from citizens wondering if they are allowed to do things that in any other time would be seen as perfectly legitimate. "What about taking learner drivers for practice, with someone from the same household, if no one leaves the car?," asked one person. "It’s a great time to take advantage of quieter roads to build their confidence." "Is going on a Maccas run essential?," asked another. Someone else said: "What about the collection of firewood?" Australians face significant fines under extraordinary new powers, following the meeting of the national cabinet last week.

What had been a request to "stay home" to help stop the spread of the virus became something far more significant. By agreement with his national cabinet, Prime Minister Scott Morrison decreed only two people should gather in public spaces but left it to the states to enforce that limit. In NSW the law now states that "all persons in NSW must not, without reasonable excuse, leave their place of residence". Breaching the orders is punishable in NSW by fines of up to $11,000 and/or six months in prison per person. In Victoria there are fines of up to $19,800 in the courts and $1652 on the spot. Some 142 fines were issued in 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday to those who breached the directions of the Chief Health Officer.

A closed golf course. Credit:Chris Hopkins Victoria Police did not present any specific cases of what people were doing to deserve a fine. Attending "disruptive parties in houses" and "gathering in public parks" were the only broad examples given. But since the introduction of the laws, there have been inconsistencies, confusion, questions about how and why state police are interpreting the law. In Victoria, bans were put in place about preventing couples who live at different locations from seeing each other. They were quickly lifted.

Different rules across state lines have also created headaches. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "Where do we stand when living in a border town. We are in Victoria and can’t fish. But the Murray, being NSW water are we able to fish in the river??" posted one person on the Victoria Police Facebook page. There are four reasons why people can leave their home: to get essential goods and services, for care and other compassionate reasons, to work or study, or to exercise.

What falls within those reasons is not black and white, but police say they will use common sense when enforcing the rules. Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services has released a long list intended to answer the community's questions about what is OK and what isn't. At nearly 5000 words, it's not exactly succinct. Loading Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said on Sunday that people continued to flout the rules and put lives at risk. "Our message is this: people should not be leaving their own home for any reason other than the four we have described. If they do there is every chance they will receive a significant fine," he said.