“The remaining 29,017 COVID-19 fines will still be required to be paid if not already resolved. They are not affected by this decision.”

Revenue NSW said the fines had been challenged on a “technical basis”, that they did not provide “a sufficiently detailed description of the offence committed and are therefore invalid”.

“Where fines are withdrawn, all sanctions, including driver licence restrictions or garnishee order activity will be stopped,” the spokesperson said.

“Where a fine has been withdrawn and a customer has made a payment, either in part or in full, Revenue NSW will make contact to arrange a refund or credit the payment towards other outstanding debts.”

Speaking outside court, Redfern Legal Centre’s acting principal solicitor Samantha Lee said it was an “extraordinary day for the people of New South Wales”.

She said the case had been a “last resort” after her clients “tried every single option” to get their fines cancelled.

“This case has set a precedent that all of those fines are invalid and should never have been issued,” she said. “What has happened today is pure justice, and really it is a case for the people.”

Lee said fines can have a crippling impact on people in disadvantaged circumstances, and a large percentage of COVID fines in NSW were issued to First Nations people, children, and people on a low wage or no wage.

She said when Justice Dina Yehia delivers a judgment in the case next year, we will know “whether this has implications for all COVID fines out there in the community.”

“It does have the potential to invalidate all COVID fines that were issued during the lockdown period,” she said.

Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.