Zoe Buhler: Ballarat anti-lockdown mum expects apology from police

A Ballarat mum accused of inciting others to protest last year says she wanted to fight the latest lockdown and expects an apology from police.

A Ballarat mum arrested for allegedly inciting others to protest the state government’s Covid lockdown says she felt compelled to fight the latest restrictions.

Zoe Buhler, 28, is accused of using social media to organise an anti-lockdown “freedom day” protest on Facebook between August 31 and September 2 last year.

At the time Ms Buhler, then pregnant, was arrested and put in handcuffs while she was dressed in pyjamas at her Miners Rest home.

She gave birth to her daughter, Amiyah, in April but her court case planned for November has been delayed.

Ms Buhler said she continued to suffer from post-traumatic stress following the arrest and expected an apology from police.

“I just want to get up and protest but then I think … I better not,” she said.

“We got bad death threats over the phone — people would state our address, they would say we know where you live, we will be there soon. We had to stay at a hotel and get a security guard.”

Zoe Lee Buhler with her husband, James, and three children.

Ms Buhler gave birth to her third child following a high-risk pregnancy and internal bleeding, which she believes was a result of the arrest.

Ms Buhler, who is studying community services, said she planned to fight the charges.

“They (police) stormed into my house, scaring my family,” she said.

“They want to make an example out of me. Why else would they target a young country girl with only five people going to a protest?

“They didn‘t expect me to stream the incident, and now that it’s gone viral, they are making an example out of me.”

Zoe was arrested by police in September last year.

Ms Buhler still maintains the Victorian government’s lockdowns are not necessary.

“I think of everyone suffering, and I get emotional because I want a better life for my kids,” she said.

“People don’t realise how much lockdowns impact kids. I have bad asthma, I use my ventilator six times a day, so I don’t wear a mask, and my daughter came up to me and said, ‘Mummy, you need to wear a mask, or you’ll die’. I’m like, OMG, this crap is being driven into our kids’ heads.”

Ms Buhler said she would continue to voice her opinion on social media.

“The cops took my right to protest away; they are not taking my right to free speech, as well,” she said.

“So many people have bombarded my Facebook telling me I’m disgusting and I deserve to die … people wished death on me when all I was doing was trying to use my right to protest to protect people from dying in lockdown.”

Ms Buhler’s case is listed for special mention in Ballarat Magistrate’s Court on December 10.