Vegan activist Tash Peterson charged over Perth restaurant row

Vegan protester Tash Peterson has been charged after allegedly refusing to leave a restaurant in Perth’s northern suburbs.

High-profile vegan activist Tash Peterson has been charged over a clash with an anti-vegan chef John Mountain at his Perth restaurant.

Western Australia Police on Friday said a 29-year-old woman from Bicton was charged with trespass, remained in vicinity of licensed premises and disorderly behaviour in a public place over the incident on June 30.

Tash Peterson has been charged with three offences after allegedly refusing to leave Connolly's Fyre restaurant on June 30.

As diners were enjoying their meals at restaurant Fyre about 6.30pm, Ms Peterson and a group of fellow vegan activists stormed the eatery, brandishing placards with pro-vegan messages and loudly played vision of pigs being euthanised.

“It will be alleged the woman refused to leave the premises when asked to do so by staff,” WA Police said in media release.

“It will be further alleged she acted in a disorderly manner,” referring to alleged verbal barbs traded with Mr Mountain.

Ms Peterson has been charged by summons to appear in Joondalup Magistrates Court on August 7.

Ms Peterson (left) has been a long-time vegan and animal rights activist, and notably stormed the pitch at Optus Stadium in February 2020 during an AFLW game.

Police are also investigating another incident in which Ms Peterson and supporters stormed Fyre for a second time on Saturday night.

“I’m just a cook but I will protect my customers, my staff and my business at any cost,” a post on Fyre’s Facebook page read on Sunday

“Trasher [sic] Peterson came back again last night.”

The trouble started earlier in June when Mr Mountain declared he was banning vegans from Fyre after the restaurant received a negative review from a customer who did not eat meat.

Speaking to New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB this week, Ms Peterson hinted at the “possibility” of a third protest.

“I will never stop speaking up for non-human animals,” she told host Heather du Plessis-Allan.

“Whether I go back to his restaurant, that’s a possibility, but I’m always going to be targeting places that are contributing to the largest holocaust in history.”

Ms Peterson also says she has been served with her fourth liquor barring notice, preventing her from entering licensed venues in WA.

She posted a video to her Facebook page on Thursday evening where she burns a piece of paper in a backyard fire pit, purported to be the notice she was served with.

“I don't comply to this misuse of the law any longer,” she says in a post alongside the video.

“You won’t stop me. Ever.”

On Thursday night, Ms Peterson, 29, posted a video to her Facebook page in which she apparently burns her liquor banning notice, barring her from entry to licensed venues in WA.

Fyre was also active on social media on Thursday, posting a photo of what appears to be a copy of Ms Peterson’s liquor barring notice.

“Hahahahahaha and so it begins,” the post reads, “Let’s oust her from WA forever. God bless you @vganbooty [Ms Peterson’s handle] and all who sail in you. Nice knowing you.”

Ms Peterson has previously pleaded guilty to failing to leave a licensed venue but not guilty to disorderly conduct relating to a protest at Outback Jacks restaurant in Northbridge in June 2022.

She’s also pleaded guilty to trespass after she locked herself to a cattle ring at last year’s Perth Royal Show.

She first started making headlines in February 2020 for a number of protests in Coles and Woolworths supermarkets, and infamously storming the pitch at Optus Stadium during an AFLW game to promote her vegan message.

Comment is being sought from Ms Peterson.