Coronavirus: ‘I don’t regret planning lockdown rally’

The Victorian Bar and Liberty Victoria have raised alarm about the handcuffing and arrest of pregnant woman Zoe Buhler.

‘Bimbo moment’: Pregnant Ballarat woman Zoe Lee Buhler outside her home after her confrontation with authorities that saw police arrest and handcuff her at home for planning a lockdown protest.

The Victorian Bar and Liberty Victoria have raised alarm about the handcuffing and arrest of a pregnant woman for organising an anti-lockdown protest in Ballarat.

Ballarat mother Zoe Lee Buhler, 28, was filmed on Wednesday being arrested and handcuffed in her pyjamas at her home, and in front of her husband and children.

She has been charged with incitement over her plans for a Freedom Day rally and will face court in January.
During the police raid, Ms Buhler offered to take down the Facebook post for the protest.

The Victorian Bar has written to Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville about their concerns regarding the arrest and said the police’s actions appeared disproportionate to the threat Ms Buhler presented.

“The Victorian Bar is concerned that the enforcement response to Ms Buhler’s conduct is apparently at odds with other reported and more measured responses by authorities to organisers or promoters of similar protests planned or carried out in contravention of public health directives,” they said in a statement.

Liberty Victoria said describing the police approach as heavy handed would be a “gross understatement”. “The prospect of pre-emptive arrest and the laying of criminal charges to prevent engagement in peaceful protest is a disturbing development – irrespective of the current state of emergency,” the group said in a statement.

Ballarat resident Zoe Lee was arrested at her home over a social media post encouraging people to attend an anti-lockdown rally. Pictures: Supplied

“Criminal sanctions and fines to enforce public health measures should only be used as a last resort – you can’t police your way out of a pandemic,” the group said.

The Institute of Public Affairs policy director Gideon Rozner said the arrest was a “disgrace to the police force and a mark of shame on the Andrews Government”.

“Under the guise of ‘public health orders’, police are arresting people for speaking out against the government,” he said.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said the current restrictions prevented anyone across the state, from leaving their house to protest.

Mr Cornelius said the “optics” of the arrest and handcuffing of a pregnant mother in her pyjamas were “never going to look good” but police acted appropriately.

“We absolutely stuffed that in these circumstances,” he said.

“The members behaved appropriate and in accordance with our policy.”

He said the handcuffs were removed from Ms Buhler as soon as police finished searching her home and police contacted Ms Buhler’s doctor to reschedule her ultrasound appointment.

Premier Daniel Andrews said Ms Buhler’s arrest was an “operational matter for Victoria Police” but the reason for a protest should not have any bearing on whether it is allowed to proceed.

“The key point here is, now is not the time to protest about anything. Because to do so is not safe,” he said.

“It‘s not about what you’re protesting for or against … As we know, even one person can infect many, many hundreds.”

Ms Buhler described herself as having a “bimbo moment” when she posted on social media about plans for a lockdown protest but said she was unremorseful for her actions.

She said police were just doing their job and they were “very nice to me off camera”.

More than $8000 has been raised for Ms Buhler on a GoFundMe page and a top legal team, including Stuart Wood QC and solicitor Stephen Andrianakis, has been formed to fight the charges.