Sunshine Coast police shut down an anti-vax community gathering during strict Covid-19 lockdown

An anti-vaccination group which was forced to disperse after it allegedly ignored requests not to use a community hall for the gathering.

An anti-vaccination group which meets regularly to discuss citizens’ rights allegedly ignored Covid-19 safe regulations and met on the Sunshine Coast while the region was in a strict lockdown.

Police ordered the group, Common Law Assembly, to disperse after they had met outside the Bli Bli Community Hall on Sunday afternoon about 2pm. Nobody was fined or charged.

Photos taken of the group showed dozens of people allegedly ignoring social distancing and mask mandates.

It comes after the state’s southeast was plunged into a strict lockdown which was announced on Saturday afternoon at 4pm.

Bli Bli Community Association president Chris Baker claimed the group ignored emails from the association saying the hall was closed due to the lockdown.

The association looks after the hall and the church on Willis Road.

Photos of an anti vax group meeting at Bli Bli during Covid-19 lockdown.

Mr Baker said he did not know what the assembly’s meet up entailed.

“The hall will be shut for a while, but this group met without our consent,” Mr Baker said.

“They decided to ignore the directions and our email and go ahead and meet.”

Mr Baker said 22 groups use the hall and all have keys to it.

“We don’t sit at the hall and police it and all the other groups have been fine,” he said.

Common Law Assembly’s website says: “We the people of the commonwealth of Australia are the supreme authority.

“Only we the people can hold those who are causing so much pain directly accountable for their crimes against us by summoning them to a common law court to be tried before a jury of 12 of their peers.

“We are the commonwealth, unite and uphold the right.”

Common Law Assembly was approached to comment.

At the assembly’s last meeting on July 20, a document was handed out to members which said anyone who had received a second Covid-19 vaccination was not welcome to further assemblies.

The procedure was voted in an unanimous show of hands, the website said.

Nambour police station officer-in-charge Gary Brayley said authorities attended a gathering at a community hall in Bli Bli where the group dispersed.

Senior Sergeant Brayley said the group was not fined as police took an educational approach.

EARLIER 10am: A group of anti-vaccination protesters in Noosa and people at a community hall gathering in Bli Bli have escaped fines despite breaching Covid-19 regulations, police say.

While most residents at the Sunshine Coast co-operated with Queensland Health’s “strictest” three-day lockdown, Superintendent Craig Hawkins said some people failed to get the message.

He said police were called to a protest at Noosa, a meeting at Bli Bli and several other instances over the weekend to disperse the gatherings.

He said this time police had opted for an educational approach over issuing fines.

However Supt Hawkins said police would keep a close eye on any similar gatherings and take a different approach if needed.

“We spoke to a lot of people and overall there was really good co-operation,” Supt Hawkins said.

“With better co-operation there’s a higher chance we can limit the extent of this three-day lockdown.”

Noosa police station officer-in-charge Ben Carroll said about 30 people were protesting against vaccinations at the Lions Park, Noosa Heads, on Sunday morning.

Noosa’s Main Beach is empty on Sunday morning with lockdowns enforced. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Senior Sergeant Carroll said the group were handing out flyers.

The flyers contained anti vaccination messages including “the vaccine is the real killer” and “positivity, meditation and prayer will raise your vibration frequencies”.

He said the group dispersed quickly after being spoken to by police.

Nambour police station officer-in-charge Gary Brayley said authorities attended a gathering at a community hall in Bli Bli.

He said police were also called to a coffee shop and a private property but no fines were issued.

It comes after police fined the owner of a Sunshine Coast cafe after she allegedly failed to comply with Covid-19 rules.

Officers allege they attended a Coolum Beach venue three times on Friday and requested a woman and her employees wear masks.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast police shut down an anti-vax community gathering during strict Covid-19 lockdown