Monica Smit

Monica Smit (born c. 1984) 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 the Victorian Government's response.

In August 2021, Victoria police charged Smit with 5 offences after she attended, and allegedly incited others to attend, anti-lockdown protests. She initially refused to accept her bail conditions, resulting in her being remanded in custody. After Smit's detention, her then-partner organised a crowdfunding campaign to support her legal defence. The campaign raised A$247,000 in five days. She spent 22 days in custody before agreeing to bail conditions. In July 2022 the incitement charges were withdrawn.

In October 2023, Smit and RDA were charged by Consumer Affairs Victoria with failing to register a fundraiser 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 false imprisonment in relation to arrests which occurred during COVID-19 protests. In September 2024, Smit was awarded $4,000 after the County Court of Victoria found in her favour. She, however, had costs of about $250,000 awarded against her because she turned down a $15,000 pre-trial settlement offer and proceeded to trial.

Personal life and career

In 2017, Smit auditioned for Survivor. She advanced to the second round of casting but did not secure a spot on the show. In her audition video, Smit stated that she "didn't hate being the centre of attention". Prior to her audition she worked in sales for a decade.

Early activism and arrest

Smit founded Reignite Democracy Australia (RDA) in mid-2020, a lobby group opposing the policies of the Victorian government and Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, particularly concerning COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions. RDA used social media platforms to organise protests and encourage public dissent against government-imposed health measures. Smit gained significant attention in October 2020 when she drove a bus around Melbourne calling for the sacking of Daniel Andrews.

In August 2021, Smit was arrested and charged with two counts of incitement for allegedly encouraging others to breach public health orders by attending anti-lockdown protests. She was also charged with three counts of breaching the Chief Health Officer's Directions. Smit refused bail conditions that would have restricted her from further inciting the public to breach public health orders, resulting in her detention. This period of detention ended after 22 days at which time Smit agreed to the bail conditions. Victoria Police later dropped all incitement charges against Smit.

Fundraising and legal consequences

Upon Smit's remand in 2021, her ex-partner Morgan Jonas, also a critic of the Victorian government's COVID-19 response, launched a crowdfunding campaign aimed at covering her legal expenses. The campaign raised A$247,000 within five days, despite some of Smit’s legal representation being provided pro bono.

In October 2023, Smit and RDA were charged by Consumer Affairs Victoria with failing to register a fundraiser. The campaign, had raised $86,000 between September 2021 and October 2022 for Smit's legal defence. Smits lawyers argued in court that the campaign did not meet the definition of a fundraiser. In May 2024, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court found both Smit and RDA guilty of running the unregistered fundraiser.

Lawsuit against Victoria Police

In 2022 Smit stated to media that she was going to take legal action against Victoria Police for false imprisonment for arrests during protests against COVID-19 lockdowns. Prior to the trial, she turned down a pre-trial settlement offer of $15,000. In September 2024, Smit was awarded $4,000 by the County Court of Victoria after it ruled that she had been falsely imprisoned on two occasions during a protest on 31 October 2020. However, Smit's decision to reject the pre-trial settlement offer led to the court ordering her to pay about $250,000 for Victoria Police's legal costs.