Coronavirus Preston: Bell Mantra hotel refugee protest planned for Good Friday
Protesters say they will deliberately break coronavirus lockdown rules to call for the release of refugees holed up in detention at a Preston hotel. But Victoria Police has a warning for those who take part in the Good Friday demonstration.
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Protesters planning to form a motorcade calling for the release of refugees from a Preston hotel say the event will go ahead despite threats of heavy fines from police.
The Refugee Action Collective and supporters will form a car cavalcade in Preston on Good Friday, circling Bell Mantra Hotela number of times before parading down High St and dispersing.
The cars will have messages of support written in chalk, and signs in their windows.
Protest spokesman Chris Breen said they had 24 vehicles registered and he expected that number to build through the week.
Mr Breen said the protest would be totally safe, with a maximum of two people from the same household in each car and no one getting out.
“Our protest will be safer than going shopping, safer than travelling on public transport, safer than non-essential work that continues, and safer by an order of magnitude than being stuck in a sealed corridor in the Mantra.”
Victoria Police are fining people who leave their homes for any reason not deemed “necessary” – for goods and services, care or compassionate reasons, work or study, or exercise.
Victoria Police deputy commissioner Shane Patton said Victorians who flouted the rules put people’s lives at risk.
“Our message is this – people should not be leaving their own home for any reason other than the four we have described, if they do there is every chance they will receive a significant fine,” he said.
If an individual breaches restrictions they can be given an on-the-spot fine of $1652.
Businesses can be fined $9913.
Police withdrew a fine issued to a Hampton learner driver practising with her mum on the weekend.
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Mr Patton said the fine was “legally issued” but police should have shown discretion.
Refugees have been in the hotel since November and have no access to the outside world, get no exercise and spend up to 22 hours a day in their hotel rooms.
The men, most of whom have chronic medical conditions, recently raised concerns about their susceptibility to coronavirus.
Mr Breen said Premier Daniel Andrews should not use the law to shut down public protests but instead use public health powers to release the refugees into safe accommodation.
The protest is scheduled to begin at 2pm on Good Friday.