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Monica Smit

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Revision as of 12:41, 11 December 2024 by TarnishedPath (talk | contribs) (wording)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Australian anti-vaxxer and anti-lockdown protester

Monica Smit is an Australian anti-vaccine and anti-lockdown protester. She is the founder of Reignite Democracy Australia (RDA), an anti-lockdown and COVID-19 conspiracy group. Smit gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic as a critic of Victorian Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August 2021, Smit was remanded in custody after being charged with incitement for encouraging breaches of lockdown restrictions. She initially refused to accept her bail conditions, resulting in detention. Upon her remand, Smit's then-partner, Morgan Jonas, who was also an anti-lockdown activist and critic of former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, organised a crowdfunding campaign to support her legal defence. The campaign raised $247,000 in five days, despite some of Smit's legal representation being provided pro bono. She spent 22 days in custody before agreeing to the bail conditions and being released.

In October 2023, Smit and RDA were charged by Consumer Affairs Victoria with failing to register a fundraiser after raising $86,000 between September 2021 and October 2022 purportedly for Smit's legal defence. In May 2024, both Smit and RDA were found guilty for running the unregistered fundraiser. In 2022 she indicated that she was going to take legal action against Victoria Police, for unlawful arrests which occurred during COVID-19 protests. In September 2024, Smit was awarded $4,000 after the County Court of Victoria found that she was unlawfully arrested by police on two occasions. She however, had costs of $250,000 awarded against her because she turned down a pre-trial settlement offer, which was greater than the amount she was awarded, and proceeded to trial.

References

  1. Lawrence, Naomi (28 October 2024). "Sky News Hosts Are Calling For Surveillance Of School Classrooms To Monitor Trans Issues". Star Observer. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  2. ^ Cooper, Adam (1 September 2021). "'Freedom activist' stays in custody after refusing to sign bail conditions". The Age. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  3. Baker, Richard; Towell, Noel; Fox Koob, Simone (30 July 2021). "'Freedom' activists aim to harness anger for new political party". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  4. ^ Davies, Anne (2021-01-09). "How an anti-mask firebrand fans the right's flames against Dan Andrews online". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  5. ^ Chung, Frank (13 September 2024). "'How is that fair?': Anti-lockdown protester Monica Smit ordered to pay $200,000 after winning unlawful arrest case". Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  6. ^ Jack, Paynter; Schelle, Caroline (8 September 2021). "How anti-vax leader Monica Smit made $50k a day in custody". news.com.au. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  7. ^ Beatty, Liam (3 May 2024). "Monica Smit: Melbourne anti-lockdown activist found guilty for unlawful fundraiser". news.com.au. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  8. Beatty, Liam (22 January 2024). "Monica Smit: Anti-vax activist to fight $86,000 unlawful fundraiser allegations". The Australian. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  9. Timms, Hugo (9 December 2022). "Judge questions case against anti-lockdown activist". news.com.au. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  10. Cucchiara, Sam (September 2024). "Anti-lockdown activist wins court case but forced to pay police lawyer fees". Nine News. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
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