Asylum seeker advocates to risk $660,000 in fines for Bell Mantra Hotel Preston exercise event
A group protesting for the release of asylum seekers from a Preston hotel say they are willing to risk up to $660,000 in fines as part of a 400-strong planned mass exercise event. And they have a high profile QC in their corner.
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Up to 400 protesters will exercise in front of Preston’s Bell Mantra Hotel next Saturday, braving what could be more than $660,000 in fines.
The protesters, calling for the release of refugees detained in the hotel, copped $47,908 in fines at their last demonstration on Good Friday.
But they are refusing to pay them, and have high profile QC Julian Burnside vowing to defend them in court.
The Refugee Action Collective is hoping around 400 people will show their support on the day.
RAC spokeswoman Lucy Honan said exercise was a legitimate reason to be away from home.
“The police are threatening to treat people walking or jogging at safe, social distance as public enemies,” she said.
“With up to 400 people indicating interest in exercising, that would mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines – all for the crime of caring about men who have been detained on Manus or Nauru for six years and now for up to a year in Preston.”
On Good Friday, 29 protesters staged a peaceful demonstration, driving around the Mantra hotel in their cars.
Drivers blasted music from their stereos and some had decorated their vehicles with political messages such as “Sack Dutton”.
Police handed out a $1652 fine to each of the protesters, totalling $47,908.
Ms Honan said the protesters were appealing the fines and were willing to take them to court.
“We’re willing to go to court and fight all the way,” she said.
“We’re not going to pay the fines and accept our right to protest is dead in Australia.”
The protesters have received support from five unions, three senators and six state politicians, all backing the call for the fines to be dropped.
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A Victoria Police spokesman said they respected the right to protest, but their number one priority was the health and safety of Victorians.
“Victoria Police has engaged with the organiser of this event and made it clear that if they were to proceed, they would be in direct contravention of the Chief Health Officer’s current directives,” they said.
“Police will have a highly visible presence at each event and if people do attend, we will have no hesitation in moving them on and issuing individual penalty notice of $1652 each where appropriate.”
Ms Honan said Premier Daniel Andrews needed to “call off the police repression” of their right to protest.
Police did not hand out any on-the-spot fines to around 30 protesters in Trafalgar, who called for an end to social distancing restrictions on Anzac Day.
They later fined two organisers $1652 each.
Up to 60 refugees have been detained in the Preston Hotel since November, and are not allowed to go outside or receive visitors.