Melbourne Magistrates’ Court: Monica Smit director of Reignite Democracy Australia allegedly held dodgy fundraiser to pay legal bills

A notorious anti-vaxxer and anti-lockdown campaigner has been dragged back into court after allegedly holding a dodgy fundraiser to pay her legal bills.

Notorious anti-vaxxer and anti lockdown campaigner Monica Smit.

A notorious anti-vaxxer and anti-lockdown campaigner who escaped conviction when she was found guilty of breaching Covid restrictions allegedly raised money to pay her legal bills without being registered, a court has heard.

Monica Smit, 35, director of Reignite Democracy Australia Pty Ltd, appeared briefly in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where her lawyer indicated she would plead not guilty to new charges.

The charges relate to Ms Smit allegedly conducting a fundraiser while not registered, with the purpose of using the proceeds to pay her legal bills.

Anti-vax campaigner Monica Smit antagonising police before she is arrested in a video uploaded in December 2020.

The appeal, held between September 2021 and October 2022, received more than $86,000 in donations after Ms Smit made online requests for public donations to fund legal fees after Victoria Police charged her with a separate offence.

During the brief appearance on Wednesday, Ms Smit’s defence, Gareth Rogers, said it was his client’s intention to plead not guilty despite not having received the brief of evidence.

She also allegedly failed to provide the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria with documents and information required under the law.

Ms Smit and RDA have been charged under the fundraising act 1998 and the charges carry hefty fines and jail time.

She will return to court next month.