Company behind right-wing activist Lauren Southern refuses to pay police $68,000

Lauren Southern and her promoters have refused to pay a $68,000 bill issued by police in Victoria who provided security on her Australian speaking tour. 

The right-wing commentator, who told a crowd Melbourne should be ‘nuked’ and once claimed ‘Allah was gay’, was the target of regular protesting during her tour.

The company behind her Australian tour, Axiomatic Events, has slammed Victoria’s police minister and refused to pay the bill.

Lauren Southern (pictured) is a Canadian YouTuber who rose to prominence in 2015 as an outspoken critic of illegal immigration, Islam and LGBTQ rights

In July violence erupted between protesters and supporters outside the Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux Live event in Melbourne.

Riot officers and mounted police were on the ground working to keep the protests at bay – but that came at a price.

A letter from Axiomatic’s solicitor said an attempt by the Victorian Government to recover the bill would be ‘vigorously resisted’.

The letter said such a penalty gives the appearance of enabling the protesters.

Axiomatic Events director David Pellowe said the ‘crippling’ bill would create a precedent, where event organisers around Australia would change or cancel their plans to hold political events that might attract attention of protesters.

‘The Andrews government has the gall to call this ‘user pays’ policing, but the reality is that it’s victim-blaming.

Protesters block the Hume Highway, stopping people from arriving at the controversial event in Melbourne for right-wing commentator Lauren Southern

Protesters block the Hume Highway, stopping people from arriving at the controversial event in Melbourne for right-wing commentator Lauren Southern

‘But if Police Minister Lisa Neville is looking for creative ways to fundraise for Victoria Police she can keep looking.’

He said that the fair and just way to go about it would be to issue a $1000 fine to every person who blocked the highway, who abused and intimidated the mums, dads and kids who came along, who damaged private property and turned Melbourne into a Berkeley war zone.

‘Our event was a normal-sized crowd in a venue that routinely hosts such crowds. We broke no laws and went above and beyond to co-operate with police, and greatly appreciate the work they do,’ he said. 

Southern, a Canadian YouTuber, rose to prominence in 2015 as an outspoken critic of illegal immigration, Islam and LGBTQ rights. 

The right-wing commentator, Lauren Southern, who told a crowd Melbourne should be 'nuked' and once claimed 'Allah was gay', was the target of regular protesting during her tour

The right-wing commentator, Lauren Southern, who told a crowd Melbourne should be ‘nuked’ and once claimed ‘Allah was gay’, was the target of regular protesting during her tour

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