A pregnant Ballarat woman who was arrested at her home for allegedly planning a COVID -19 protest says she was "shaken and overwhelmed" by the incident but police are standing by their conduct. Miners Rest woman Zoe Buhler, 28, was arrested on Wednesday and the live video she took of the incident has since gone viral. "I was just so scared," Ms Buhler said. "They were saying they had a warrant to search the premises and put me under arrest." She said her children had been terrified, with her daughter hiding in the front bedroom. But Victoria police have defended accusations the arrest was heavy-handed and said it "entirely reasonable", given she had allegedly planned a protest against COVID restrictions. Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said that while the optics of arresting a pregnant female would never "look good", police were satisfied that members had behaved appropriately. He said coronavirus did not discriminate, and police would not discriminate from holding people to account for "selfish" and criminal behaviour. "If we started to say, 'we can't hold people to account because of particular attributes' - where do we draw the line?" Assistant Commissioner Cornelius told media on Thursday. "While this deadly virus doesn't discriminate, we won't discriminate. And we can't discriminate in holding people to account," he said. "We said we would be coming out and we would be holding people to account and that's exactly what we've done." He said he was "absolutely satisfied" that members had behaved appropriately and in accordance with policy, and had even made alternate arrangements for the woman's ultrasound appointment. Ms Buhler was arrested at her home on Wednesday afternoon, for allegedly inciting an anti-lockdown protest. The pregnant woman had been at home with her partner and two young children, aged three and four, when there was a knock at the door. Her partner opened it to find plain-clothed Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit detectives inquiring if she was home. When this was confirmed, a group of about six detectives walked into the home. In the heat of the moment, while wearing pink plaid pyjamas, Ms Buhler decided to live stream the incident to Facebook. "It was a spur of the moment decision," she said, saying she had watched other people do so in interactions with police. The video has now been viewed more than 6 million times. IN OTHER NEWS "I wasn't aware they were police because they were not in uniform. I didn't know if I should make a phone call but thought 'if I go live then all my friends and family will see what's going on'." Ms Buhler said she was motivated to create the event on September 5, in line with other protests, as she had been following the number of recent protests in Melbourne. While she said she believed the virus was a health problem, she wanted to "take a stand for human rights" and push for an end to the lockdowns put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus. Five people indicated they would attend on the event's page. "I believe people should still wear masks and social distance. Nobody wants to catch COVID," she said. "But so many people are losing their jobs and so many families are affected. It's crazy that so many people have been affected by COVID without actually catching COVID." She said she believed that under a stage 3 lockdown, people were still allowed to protest. "I was under the impression that here in Ballarat we could protest. I just wanted to do something to make a difference." Ms Buhler said she didn't know what incitement was before yesterday, and laughed that she still doesn't. She did not want to comment about whether she would do the same thing again, due to her bail conditions. Watch the video of the arrest here.
Police seized two laptops from her home, in addition to both her and her partners' phones. Her bail conditions include complying with the Chief Health Officers' directions and not attending Ballarat CBD on September 5. She is also not allowed to attend the CBD for any reasons other than to attend medical appointments, court or other essential appointments. She has been banned from using social media before September 6. While the incident was a shock for her, she said it had not changed her perception of police. Ms Buhler said officers allowed her to change before leaving the house and were "very nice to [her]" at the station, where she remained for about two hours. She missed an ultrasound appointment, but it has been rescheduled for mid-September. "I understand they're only doing their job and following orders but it was just a bit extreme. "I do appreciate police. They do what they can to protect the community but hopefully in the future it's not from someone like me, because I don't consider myself a criminal," she said. Watch the press conference here. Assistant Commissioner Cornelius urged people not to selfishly breach the Chief Health Officer's directions and attend protests this weekend. He said anyone who thinks they can attend a protest at this time, despite outspoken police warnings, "must have been on Mars". "Staying home is the best way to recover lives, jobs and some sense of normality. Don't let selfish behaviour get in the way of this," he said. "But if you do take the selfish option, we'll be ready for you." If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
Zoe Buhler outside her Miners Rest home on Thursday morning. Photo: Lachlan Bence.
A pregnant Ballarat woman who was arrested at her home for allegedly planning a COVID -19 protest says she was "shaken and overwhelmed" by the incident but police are standing by their conduct.
Miners Rest woman Zoe Buhler, 28, was arrested on Wednesday and the live video she took of the incident has since gone viral.
"I was just so scared," Ms Buhler said.
"They were saying they had a warrant to search the premises and put me under arrest."
She said her children had been terrified, with her daughter hiding in the front bedroom.
But Victoria police have defended accusations the arrest was heavy-handed and said it "entirely reasonable", given she had allegedly planned a protest against COVID restrictions.
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said that while the optics of arresting a pregnant female would never "look good", police were satisfied that members had behaved appropriately.
He said coronavirus did not discriminate, and police would not discriminate from holding people to account for "selfish" and criminal behaviour.
"If we started to say, 'we can't hold people to account because of particular attributes' - where do we draw the line?" Assistant Commissioner Cornelius told media on Thursday.
"While this deadly virus doesn't discriminate, we won't discriminate. And we can't discriminate in holding people to account," he said.
"We said we would be coming out and we would be holding people to account and that's exactly what we've done."
He said he was "absolutely satisfied" that members had behaved appropriately and in accordance with policy, and had even made alternate arrangements for the woman's ultrasound appointment.
Ms Buhler was arrested at her home on Wednesday afternoon, for allegedly inciting an anti-lockdown protest.
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius speaking on Thursday. Picture: Victoria Police.
The pregnant woman had been at home with her partner and two young children, aged three and four, when there was a knock at the door.
Her partner opened it to find plain-clothed Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit detectives inquiring if she was home.
When this was confirmed, a group of about six detectives walked into the home.
In the heat of the moment, while wearing pink plaid pyjamas, Ms Buhler decided to live stream the incident to Facebook.
"It was a spur of the moment decision," she said, saying she had watched other people do so in interactions with police.
The video has now been viewed more than 6 million times.
"I wasn't aware they were police because they were not in uniform. I didn't know if I should make a phone call but thought 'if I go live then all my friends and family will see what's going on'."
Ms Buhler said she was motivated to create the event on September 5, in line with other protests, as she had been following the number of recent protests in Melbourne.
While she said she believed the virus was a health problem, she wanted to "take a stand for human rights" and push for an end to the lockdowns put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Five people indicated they would attend on the event's page.
"I believe people should still wear masks and social distance. Nobody wants to catch COVID," she said.
"But so many people are losing their jobs and so many families are affected. It's crazy that so many people have been affected by COVID without actually catching COVID."
She said she believed that under a stage 3 lockdown, people were still allowed to protest.
"I was under the impression that here in Ballarat we could protest. I just wanted to do something to make a difference."
Ms Buhler said she didn't know what incitement was before yesterday, and laughed that she still doesn't.
She did not want to comment about whether she would do the same thing again, due to her bail conditions.
Watch the video of the arrest here.
Alleged COVID-19 protester shaken by 'entirely reasonable' arrest
Police seized two laptops from her home, in addition to both her and her partners' phones.
Her bail conditions include complying with the Chief Health Officers' directions and not attending Ballarat CBD on September 5.
She is also not allowed to attend the CBD for any reasons other than to attend medical appointments, court or other essential appointments.
She has been banned from using social media before September 6.
While the incident was a shock for her, she said it had not changed her perception of police.
Ms Buhler said officers allowed her to change before leaving the house and were "very nice to [her]" at the station, where she remained for about two hours.
She missed an ultrasound appointment, but it has been rescheduled for mid-September.
"I understand they're only doing their job and following orders but it was just a bit extreme.
"I do appreciate police. They do what they can to protect the community but hopefully in the future it's not from someone like me, because I don't consider myself a criminal," she said.
Watch the press conference here.
Assistant Commissioner Cornelius urged people not to selfishly breach the Chief Health Officer's directions and attend protests this weekend.
He said anyone who thinks they can attend a protest at this time, despite outspoken police warnings, "must have been on Mars".
"Staying home is the best way to recover lives, jobs and some sense of normality. Don't let selfish behaviour get in the way of this," he said.
"But if you do take the selfish option, we'll be ready for you."
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
