Conspiracy theorists have vowed to read a bizarre script to police who threaten to arrest them at a planned rally in Melbourne on the weekend to protest the stage-four lockdown.
A Facebook event to protest the shutdown intends to ‘fill up the streets to show these criminals we won’t give up our country and livelihoods without a fight’.
It has attracted more than 100 confirmed attendees and almost 400 expressions of interest.
Victoria Police said the ‘selfish behaviour’ will not be tolerated, and officers will ‘respond and take appropriate action’.
But rally organisers have advised protesters to recite a script which they believe will stop police arresting them.
It reads: ‘I have the right to demonstrate’ and ‘if you arrest me that will give me the right to place you in the witness box at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court’.
Rally organisers have advised protesters to recite a script to police from arresting them
A Facebook event to protest the shutdown intends to ‘fill up the streets to show these criminals we won’t give up our country and livelihoods without a fight’
In a statement on Thursday, Victoria Police said it was aware some ‘selfish’ people may be planning to protest in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday. Pictured: A man being fined in Victoria
The script then asks police if they have a ‘valid Constitutional grant of power after the illegal removal of the crown’ along with other questions about former Attorney General Robert Hulls.
Controversial anti-masker Eve Black used the same speech on cops at a checkpoint last month, although she was later arrested and fined.
In a statement on Thursday, Victoria Police said it was aware some ‘selfish’ people may be planning to protest in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday.
Should the march proceed, police said it would constitute a ‘completely blatant breach’ of the chief health officer’s directions and put Victorians’ lives at risk.
‘This selfish behaviour will absolutely not be tolerated,’ police said in a statement.
‘Be assured Victoria Police will be responding and will take appropriate action.
Controversial anti-masker Eve Black used the same speech on cops at a checkpoint last month, although she was later arrested and fined
In a statement on Thursday, Victoria Police said it was aware some ‘selfish’ people may be planning to protest in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday. Pictured: A woman is arrested in Melbourne
‘There will be a highly visible presence in and around the city to ensure the community is complying with stage four restrictions.’
They warned anyone caught on the street protesting could be issued on-the-spot fines of $1,652 or arrested if necessary.
The organisers of the event may also face disciplinary action, with police seeking to track them down.
But police have promised a common-sense approach to enforcing worker permits that are now in place with the stage-four lockdown, provided people do not try to rort the system.
Meanwhile, another person refusing to wear a mask fought off officers as they arrested her in Victoria.
Police in Geelong saw the 25-year-old woman on Monday afternoon and she allegedly repeatedly refused to provide her identify when asked.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the tough restrictions were the ‘only way’ the state would drive down cases
They warned anyone caught on the street protesting could be issued on-the-spot fines of $1,652 or arrested if necessary. Pictured: Police arrest a man for not wearing a mask in July
When they attempted to arrest her, she allegedly became aggressive and assaulted them, with the two officers receiving minor injuries to their arms and hands.
The woman was charged with assaulting police, resisting police, failing to provide an address and fined $200 for breaching coronavirus directions.
Victoria Police released details of the arrest on Thursday after repeated incidents of people not wearing masks and refusing to co-operate with officers, including a 26-year-old policewoman’s head being smashed into concrete by an anti-masker in Frankston.
Victoria recorded 471 new cases of COVID-19 and eight more deaths on Thursday, far fewer than the record-breaking 725 cases and 15 deaths reported on Wednesday.
Regional Victoria entered stage three restrictions overnight, with residents only able to leave their homes to shop for food and essential items, to provide or receive care, to exercise, and to work and study if they can’t from home.
The state’s shutdown is expected to strip as much as $9 billion from the national economy over the three months to September, according to federal modelling.
The national unemployment rate is also expected to peak at almost 10 per cent.
Mr Andrews said the tough restrictions were the ‘only way’ the state would drive down cases.
‘I’m not for a moment saying businesses are happy about this. They’re not, I’m not, workers are not. This is not the position we wanted to find ourselves in,’ he said.