Controversial vegan activist Tash Peterson leads protest in Melbourne after leaving Perth

A notorious vegan activist has led a topless march through the streets of Melbourne after she was “banned” from every licensed venue in Perth.

A controversial animal activist has touched down in Melbourne, marching topless through the city streets alongside a bloodied lamb prop after claiming she was robbed of her “freedom of speech” in home city Perth.

Tash Peterson, 28, joined fellow campaigners Stefania Ferrario and ‘Vegan Stace’ along Bourke St on Wednesday in an audacious bid to draw attention to Victoria’s wool industry.

The topless trio sported signs reading “wool hurts” and “wool is as cruel as fur”, with Ms Ferrario holding the fake wounded lamb aloft to expose her bare breasts in the icy winter weather.

Ms Peterson this week moved to Melbourne with her partner in response to being “banned from every liquor licence venue in Western Australia”, protesting along the busy shopping precinct immediately after arrival.

The trio holding signs and a bloodied lamb prop in the CBD. Picture: Instagram

The group braved the weather and marched along Bourke St. Picture: Jack Higgs/Facebook

The prominent vegan is no stranger to the spotlight, having made a name for herself in the west through her trademark semi-nude demonstrations as well as altercations with butchers and steakhouse patrons.

She was slapped with a $3500 fine in the Perth Magistrates’ Court in April for marching through a Louis Vuitton store smeared in her own menstrual blood.

Her Instagram profile, which boasts more than 16k followers, includes a bio which reads “if you’re not vegan, you’re an animal abuser”.

She has previously posted footage of violent altercations with butchers and steakhouse staff, while she drew attention in Melbourne in 2021 for pouring fake blood over a KFC floor while using a megaphone to protest within the restaurant.

Ms Peterson’s stunts have landed her in hot water with WA authorities. Picture: Instagram

Ms Peterson announced her return to Victoria on Instagram, declaring she was ready to take to the streets after a long trip across the Nullarbor.

“We are finally in Melbourne after a very long journey,” she said.

“We are here, we’ve had two or three hours’ sleep (but) we are already going to be protesting.”

The outspoken activist has suggested her move to Melbourne will be permanent.

“My freedom of speech has been taken from me and we have a one-way ticket to Melbourne and I’m going to protest over there,” she said.

Ms Peterson’s activism has previously led to violent altercations.

Speaking after the Bourke St demonstration, Ms Peterson declared her opening act as a Melbourne local was a success.

“We’re raising awareness for the sheep that are exploited and murdered in the wool industry,” she said.

“It was a good protest.”

Ms Peterson, who turned vegan at 23, goes by the moniker “vganbootyy” and runs an OnlyFans account sharing sexually explicit content.

She says her OnlyFans venture helps “to support my activism”.