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RAC supporters are continuing to contest the fines imposed on Good Friday 2020 for taking part in a COVID-safe car convoy around the Mantra Hotel in Preston, where Medevac refugees were being held.

Thirty refugee supporters were fined $1652 each, taking the total bill for standing up for refugee rights to about $50,000.

RAC activist Chris Breen was arrested at home the same day and charged with incitement for allegedly posting a Facebook event promoting the car convoy. He won his case in court in March this year.

The legal process of challenging the fines has been long and drawn out, partly because there is a case in the Supreme Court of Victoria which may well affect the magistrate’s decision in the RAC case.

On 6 September, the RAC case was adjourned once again.

There will be a special conference on 21 December, where legal matters arising in the light of the Supreme Court case will be discussed. This will be followed by a contest mention on 7 March 2023.

RAC will continue to campaign for the right to protest for refugees.

Find out more about the campaign and show your support.

Refugee Action Collective (RAC) Victoria has made a submission to the parliamentary committee dealing with the Ending Indefinite and Arbitrary Immigration Detention Bill (2021).

The Bill was introduced by Independent MP Andrew Wilkie in 2021.

RAC (Vic) has strongly advocated for the dismantling of indefinite and arbitrary detention on the basis that it is punitive and in clear breach of human rights.

RAC (Vic) believes the Bill provides a framework for rectifying many of the abhorrent and cruel components of Australia’s current detention policies.

However, the Bill in its current form still allows for immigration detention, which we oppose. Therefore, we cannot support the Bill in full until amendments are made to delete the potential for any length of immigration detention.

Read our submission in full here.

UPDATED ON 1 MARCH. A magistrate today adjourned the case until 6 September while the Court of Appeal hears a case that has a bearing on the RAC supporters’ fines.

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Almost 30 RAC Vic supporters are appealing fines imposed for taking part in a COVID-safe car convoy to the Mantra Hotel prison in April 2020. On Monday, 4 October, a magistrate adjourned the case for a two-hour hearing on 1 March.

The RAC supporters were issued with fines of $1652 each for sitting safely in their cars while trying to drive round the Mantra in Preston to show support for the Medevac refugees then locked up there.

The fines totalled about $50,000 and were issued at a time when people could visit shops like Bunnings without face masks.

Chris Breen was arrested at home the same day and charged with incitement for allegedly posting a Facebook event promoting the car convoy. He won his case in court in March this year.

RAC supporters were showing care and compassion for the refugees who were locked in the hotel and at risk of contracting COVID from security guards.

RAC argued then, and continues to argue, that the real health risk was not a car convoy but unlimited detention of men who had been accepted as refugees but left to rot by the Australian government.

Find out more about the campaign and show your support.