Ballarat anti-lockdown mum Zoe Buhler has next court date brought forward

A pregnant Ballarat woman who made national headlines after being accused of organising an anti-lockdown protest has faced court.

A pregnant Ballarat woman arrested in her home over allegedly organising an anti-lockdown protest is stressed by court proceedings and wants to “enjoy” her pregnancy, a court has heard.

Zoe Buhler, 28, appeared via video link in Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where magistrate Letizia Torres agreed to give her an earlier date in late February while the prosecution consider the defence’s proposal for a diversion, which would allow the defendant to avoid a criminal record.

Defence barrister Anna Dixon told the court Ms Buhler was due to give birth to her third child on April 20, but was likely to be induced at the beginning of the month.

She said the court wasn’t able to administratively provide a date earlier than April 26, and requested Ms Torres exercise her discretion to order a date for the next four to six weeks so the matter could be dealt with before Ms Buhler gave birth.

“My client is finding these proceedings very stressful … she’s finding it difficult to enjoy her pregnancy she doesn’t want it hanging over her head,” she said.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Repac said because of the nature of the allegations, supervisors would need to be spoken to about the prospect of a diversion.

Ms Torres accepted the request, taking into account Ms Buhler’s due date, her two other young children aged between three and five, and the distress the court process was causing her.

Ms Buhler is facing one charge of incitement laid against her.

In September last year, a video emerged on social media of Ms Buhler being put in handcuffs before police raided her Miners Rest home over a protest she is alleged to have planned for Ballarat.

About a month later in October Ms Buhler successfully applied for five of her seven bail conditions to be removed.

Ms Buhler will return to court on February 25.