The NSW Police Force has requested the Australian Defence Force's help in enforcing COVID-19 compliance during the Greater Sydney lockdown.
The state's COVID-19 cases have continued to rise in recent days despite harsh lockdown measures, with today marking a new high of 239 local cases.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said authorities had been flooded by thousands of community complaints against those disobeying public health orders.
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He confirmed this afternoon that he's formally asked Prime Minister Scott Morrison for 300 ADF personnel to assist police on the ground, particularly in western and south-western Sydney.
"The assistance of the ADF has been essential over the past 18 months – particularly during last year's border operation, the ongoing hotel quarantine operation and the assistance provided with logistics support in the Police Operations Centre," Commissioner Fuller said.
"With an increase in enforcement activity over the coming week, I have now made a formal request to the Prime Minister for ADF personnel to assist with that operation."
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Commissioner Fuller told this morning's COVID-19 press conference that "thousands" of additional police officers would also be out on the streets in the coming week.
"We all want to come out of lockdown," he said.
"These new powers, the additional police into these areas, it's about getting us out of lockdown sooner.
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"So you can expect to see more police on the ground; you can expect to see more enforcement."
In addition, the NSW government has also handed the police force additional powers to close businesses and shut down illegal construction work.
Fines for failing to abide by the government's mask mandate have also been increased from $200 to $500.
