Avi Yemini recounts his December 17th arrest in Melbourne’s "policing state," where Victoria Police detained him—hands cuffed—while filming a banned Freedom Day rally, despite 34 COVID cases in Casey going unfined. His $50K+ lawsuit, led by Madeline Smith and Peter Hamilton, challenges abuse of emergency powers, including a late-night raid on his home. At protests like Chatston and South Melbourne Market, police ignored Rebel News’ compliance with health rules while targeting journalists, demanding mask-lowering for ID checks. Yemini’s legal fight exposes systemic overreach and selective enforcement, framing pandemic restrictions as tools to suppress dissent under the guise of public safety. [Automatically generated summary]
Hello my rebels and I hope you're having a good Christmas time.
Hopefully you're having a chance to take a break from a busy year or maybe you're still on staycation and have been for many months.
Either way, it's a pleasure to have you listen to the podcast.
Over the days ahead, we have the best of the Rebel compilations of some of our favorite videos this past year.
I hope you enjoyed them.
We'll be back with original programming very early in the new year, but I think a lot of these videos you're about to hear today in the next few days may well be new to you because they were on our YouTube channel, but they were not on my show, The Ezra Levant Show.
So I hope you enjoy these because I think most of them may be new for you and they're really some of our best work.
So without further ado, here are the best of the Rebels shows from 2020.
And just in closing, let me invite you to become a Rebel News Plus subscriber.
You get the video version of these shows, which the podcast is great, but seeing the visuals, especially in some of our most dramatic coverage, really makes a difference.
Just go to RebelNews.com, click subscribe.
It's eight bucks a month.
As you know, we don't take a dime from Trudeau.
So this is how we rely on you, frankly.
Okay, here's today's show.
Tonight, in one of our year-end reviews, the best of Aviamini.
It's December 23rd and this is the Ezra Levant show.
Why should others go to jail when you're a biggest carbon consumer I know?
There's 8,500 customers here and you won't give them an answer.
The only thing I have to say is government of why I'm others is because it's my bloody right to do so.
Well, you know, one of our most exciting reporters in the last few months has been Avi Yamini.
He only joined us, I think, four months ago, but he's made an enormous impact.
Not only is he beloved in Canada, the United States, and the UK, but his home country of Australia was starving for the rebel point of view.
That is telling the other side of the story, especially in the city Avi lives in, Melbourne, which is the heart of the Australian state of Victoria, which had the strictest pandemic lockdowns in the world.
Well, Avi went to work not just with his great journalism, but with his crowdfunding to hire lawyers and fight the fines and sue the lockdown police and challenge the constitutionality of the lockdown.
Telling Melbourne's Story00:02:54
I truly believe that Avi Yamini changed the entire political discussion in Melbourne, in the state of Victoria, and therefore in Australia itself.
So today, the best of Avi Yamini.
I want to start this report by firstly thanking everyone for all the love and support you've shown since the footage of my unprovoked and violent arrest on Saturday was released.
And an extra special thanks to the over 10,000 people who have already signed my petition.
It's humbling.
If you haven't signed it, I'm sure after watching this report, you're going to want to.
So when you're done, head over to standwithavi.com and sign and share my petition demanding an end to the Victorian police state that detains journalists for doing our job.
This report is going to show you what really happened on Saturday.
From the moment I head to the protest, it exposes how police are abusing their new state of emergency powers and even worse, how the mainstream media is helping them get away with it.
Watch it from the beginning to the end and then share it far and wide.
This is one of the protests that I actually have no idea how it's going to end today.
We're now driving to the Freedom Day rally, the anti-lockdown protest that has been banned in Melbourne.
You've seen over the past week we've seen Victoria police heavy-handedly kicking in doors, arresting pregnant women in their homes in an effort to stop this rally from happening today.
Police warned that the entrances into the city are going to be blocked.
So we're expecting probably a roadblock here.
You're going to live it, experience it.
I'm going to take you all the way into the city and then to the protest and we're going to report on what's actually happening there because we know that the mainstream media is not going to give you the truth.
Here we go.
This is Dictator Dan speaking right now, live, on the way.
...Victorians in hospital. 21 of those are receiving intensive care, and 15 of those, 21, are on a ventilator. Ballarat has just two active cases. There's two active cases.
They arrested her in front of her children and dragged her out of her home in cuffs for two active cases.
There's over 100,000 people who live in Ballarat.
The chances of her protest causing an outbreak, having any sort of risk is near to none.
The crazy thing is during Black Lives Matter, they allowed those protests to happen where the threat was far more real at the time.
Here we go, we've got a roadblock ahead.
Apparently COVID compliance checks stands for, is a euphemism for shutting down free protest.
Cops Under COVID Euphemism00:14:44
here we go guys three in the car and they're filming is the problem There you go mate.
Not too bad, how are you?
Yeah good.
There's my work permit.
What's your name?
Avi.
Avi Yamini, that's my work permit, mate.
Your last name?
Yamini.
Internet publishing and broadcasting for news media purposes.
As per the guidelines.
Absolutely.
We've got three permits if you want.
That's fine.
They're all from the same house, I think.
Not from the same house.
We've got three separate permits if you need.
Yeah, but you're traveling inside a car.
That's part of the work.
That's the work.
job is the whole journey so that's part of can you describe the work to me So I'm a journalist for Rebel News under the Yemeni report.
And this is my sound guy, that's my cameraman.
And our job today is to cover what is happening in the CBD.
We're going to ask you to park here so we can have a chat.
No problems.
Thank you, Parker.
Here we go.
I have it on my phone, yes.
Guys, can you provide the permits?
So they're obviously...
You're going to need permits.
Yeah, they've got the permits.
Can you give me the permits?
That's one permit.
Where's your work here?
Okay, so we're starting at the shrine and then we're following it through to Parliament wherever it's going.
That's what it says on the permit as per the regulation.
Can I ask you to basically channel 9, channel 7, they're all coming here.
Are you going to question them the same way?
This is what we're doing here.
Okay, I'm just asking because you seem to not understand what the media does.
This is what we're doing.
Here's the permits.
Here's the permits.
We are just doing the job.
That's fine.
So let me make it clear.
We're going to cover the events in the CBD and the roadblocks and everything that was announced.
That's why we have three in a car.
Here we go.
And we, yep, give me the IDs boys.
You see it?
I think you know who I am.
How you doing?
Having a good day?
In our work, you've got to stay very, very carefully within the guidelines because unlike the mainstream media, I highly doubt they're doing this for the mainstream media.
Thank you, sir.
Yeah, no problem.
We're bearing right with you.
The world is very interested to see how they're going to react to media covering what's happening in Victoria.
Okay, thank you very much.
We have checked your.
Thank you very much, sir.
Thank you for your service.
This is a crucial moment because police pulled us over.
They challenged me a little bit.
They didn't want me to go in, but I provided all the required legal documentation.
And in his words, they checked our credentials and were all right to go.
From here, we head straight to the Shrine of Remembrance, where the protests were planned to start.
I began doing my job just like any of the other journalists there.
20 against one.
He just said his opinion.
And just like the other journalists there, I followed the protesters as they marched for a good couple of hours to Albert Park.
Over the next few days, I'll release a lot more of what happened on the march.
I mean, like the stuff that you won't see in the mainstream media.
But this report, I want to focus on how the police behaved as they trapped the protesters by the Albert Park Lake.
So there's been numerous quite intense, heavy-handed arrests here today.
We walked around for there was probably a good two hours where there was no arrest, no anything.
It was quite peaceful until I'm just going to stop here for a second.
As you can see, I was just doing my job.
There was no one even around me.
The bloke marched up to me while I was doing a piece to camera.
You can actually hear me laugh because I seriously thought he was joking.
If you watch my content before, you'll know that sometimes cops walk up to me and banter a little bit.
You know, I guess they like my work or they appreciate or they find it funny or they see my sense of humor and they join in.
But I quickly realised that this power-hungry commander was not bantering.
No arrest, no anything.
It was quite peaceful until...
This guy here is not here for any purposes or reasons.
Andy, let's go to it!
He's going to be under arrest.
But this guy here is going to be placed under arrest right now.
I'm under arrest.
I am media.
I need that.
I've got my permit in my pocket.
My permit is in my pocket.
I'm fine.
I'm fine.
I've got my permit in my pocket.
I work for Rebel News.
I am lawfully here.
I've got my permit in my pocket.
My permit is in my pocket.
I'm fine.
I'm fine.
I've got my permit in my pocket.
I work for Rebel News.
I am lawfully here.
Can you grab that?
And that's my mic over there.
Can you give it to my staff?
Mend this one.
Mend this one.
Can you grab the mic in the mic gate?
At this point, police forcibly take me away with my hands still cuffed behind my back like I'm some sort of violent criminal.
But what they didn't realise is I was still mic'd up and was recording everything they were about to say.
So what did I do exactly?
Hinder.
Hinder what?
How did I hinder?
How did I hinder?
I've got my permit in my back pocket.
I've got a pass.
I was at the roadblock.
I got let in properly.
I followed all the chief health officers.
All the chief health officers' directions.
I had the work permit and it was checked as I came in here by Victoria Police.
I've got it all on camera.
Yeah, no, you're here for a hinder.
What hinder?
What's a hinder?
Hinder police.
What did I hinder police with?
How did I hinder police?
How did I hinder police?
Is that on?
Is that camera on?
Yeah, it's on.
Because it tends to go missing.
So how did I hinder police allegedly?
How did I allegedly hinder police?
That's what I'd like to know.
You've placed me under arrest.
You haven't told me how I've hindered police at all.
But we're totally under arrest, aren't we?
Yeah, on what basis?
For what?
Basically, they couldn't get me for breaching any COVID restrictions, so they had to make up a hindering allegation.
Only there's one problem which you all witnessed.
I was alone with no one around me.
I wasn't stopping anyone from doing anything, let alone hindering police.
But the arresting officer then goes off and talks and left me alone with two other cops holding me still with my hands tightly cuffed because I was some sort of threat.
So I thought I might as well chat to them.
After all, I was there to get some answers.
I feel for you, huh?
Why didn't you think they did this with Black Lives Matter?
Why didn't they?
It was illegal to protest in Black Lives Matter, mate.
What?
It was.
It was stage.
So Ballarat's stage three.
Ballarat's the same.
Why is Ballarat illegal?
Your opinion?
I don't have an opinion.
I'm asking you facts.
I'll answer your facts.
I'm having a conversation.
You've got me handcuffed.
I agree.
I feel for you, bro.
I feel for you.
I feel for you that you have to do so.
I just want to understand why there's such a heavy-handed response to a protest that I'm not even a part of.
I don't actually agree with half these guys.
But the fact that you're going in like this, arresting journalists because why?
Because it's stage four.
But Ballarat's stage three, police.
You've seen that footage, you're not Daniel Andrews.
You're not going to deny that one.
To be honest, I don't really care.
And right there is the problem.
The government has given these unprecedented powers to a pack of power-hungry people who don't actually care.
Then suddenly I noticed when we were standing there a police officer from the police media unit walking by.
Police media unit.
How do you feel about them arresting somebody, a journalist?
I'm here as a journalist.
I have the passes.
I have the, they've got all my things there.
They've just arrested me out of nowhere.
I've run hungry mini.
I work for Rebel News.
I've got my permit on me.
They've got it there.
They've arrested me for, they now change it to hindering.
So I don't understand how they're in Victoria, in Melbourne, they've placed a journalist under arrest.
And a few minutes later, the arresting officer returns.
So I'm just going to give you a caution, alright?
This one between 1640, you don't have to say to do anything.
Anything you say to do?
Maybe give me an evidence.
Do you understand that?
I do.
Alright.
The hinder, you're between our police lines.
We've got two police lines.
You're in between.
Our four commanders asked you to move and you've got it in his way.
When did he ask me to move?
The world is my witness.
You've all seen the footage.
He barges in as I'm doing a piece to camera pointing, going, this bloke is not here for purposeful reasons.
Put him under arrest.
Did anyone hear one time him asking me to move?
I would have complied.
I wasn't there to be in their way.
I was there to report what was happening on the ground.
It was obvious he didn't like me.
He knows me.
He recognises me.
He doesn't like the fact that I'm holding them accountable.
G'day guys.
I'm here today at the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the state of Victoria, to launch our fight back against what has become the out-of-control police state.
The world has witnessed what's happening here, from unlawful arrests to police brutality.
And of course, as you remember last week, the moment I was violently tackled to the ground, arrested, held against my will and sent packing.
Why?
for doing my job, the crime of journalism.
But today we are taking it one step further and I need your help to do it at standwithovi.com because it's already cost $11,000 just to bring it here.
We've got Madeline Smith and for those of you who have been following me for a while will know that she has won every single politically motivated case that the police have brought against me so far.
Now she's helping me take the fight to them and she's brought on Peter Hamilton who specialises in this specific area of law.
Once we're in this court we're likely going to need some heavy hitters to join our legal team so you can imagine how this will easily cost over $50,000 which sounds like a lot I know but defending our freedom is priceless especially when you're up against the state in here.
So in summary if you give me the tools to fight them at standwithavi.com we will finish the job but I cannot do it alone.
Today my legal team officially filed the court proceedings in this court against the state and we're going after them for the unlawful arrests, the false imprisonment, the excessive force of tackling a journalist to the ground who posed no threat.
Aggravated and exemplary damages for the intimidation including that creepy visit to my house with my children late at night.
But this is not only about me, this is about taking a stand against tyranny and getting our state back.
The government have gone unchallenged until now in eroding our civil liberties.
My case is just the perfect one to spearhead this fight because it's so clear-cut.
They arrested a journalist.
And the full nine-page well-written and well-argued lawsuit that has been stamped by the Supreme Court and served on Victoria Police is now available at standwithavy.com and I encourage you to read the full document.
You don't have to like me, my reporting.
You can even oppose my entire worldview.
But you must recognise the importance of not allowing the state to dictate what journalism is okay.
Point under arrest.
Who's going to be posted under arrest right now?
So if you're able and you're willing to pitch in what will inevitably be a very expensive battle, please go to standwithavi.com now.
Every cent helps and make sure to also share this campaign because together this very little David can and will beat the big Goliath.
We have the truth, evidence and the will to fight this all the way to the top for all of our sakes.
Yesterday guys I hit the streets once again to follow the freedom or lockdown protest, whatever you want to call them here in Melbourne, Australia, where the protest organisers played a little cat and mouse with police.
My full report will be published exclusively to rebel news as soon as it's ready, as soon as possible.
You'll actually get to see how filing our Supreme Court action with your help changed police tactics.
But that's to come.
In this video I decided to challenge the protesters as they dispersed from their final pop-up protest location in Footscray which is a Melbourne western suburb at the end of the day.
It's important to note yesterday Victoria recorded 14 new active cases of COVID.
Today even lower at 11.
However the Premier is still refusing to lift any of these harsh restrictions early.
They're here to protect us, protect Victoria from this virus that has had 14 active cases overnight.
One four.
That's a lot of cases isn't it?
That's not a lot of cases.
What do you mean if you do the maths there's 6.6 million Victorians?
Yes.
What's the chances of catching the virus?
14 Cases Overnight00:07:23
I don't know.
You have to do that some for me Arvi.
0016 or something.
That doesn't make sense.
But isn't it justified?
I just can't listen.
I understand.
I get where you're coming from, but there's been 14 cases overnight.
I think the economy should be shut down.
No.
What do you mean, no?
You are outrageous.
You are putting us all at risk.
Shame on you.
Daniel Andrews is the one killing people.
Look at suicide.
Look at the mental health crisis which has been created.
The domestic violence, the alcoholism, the drugs, right?
Locking people in their own homes when they're perfectly healthy people.
He's the one with blood on his hands and he's seen his saving life.
But how can you say that?
There's been 14 cases overnight.
Don't we deserve a curfew?
I don't look at the numbers.
Of course we don't deserve a curfew.
That's ridiculous to have a curfew.
Have you never been grounded before?
Everyone's, everyone's, no, not in my family.
They give me a lot of freedom, you know.
But 8pm, everyone's got to be talked up safely in beds.
It's ridiculous.
You can't travel more than five kilometres.
It's totalitarian stuff.
And we see we're a democracy.
That's not democratic.
There's nothing democratic to that.
And no one will take responsibility because it's got nothing to do with a health crisis.
That's why they're all passing the buck.
Nice to meet you, man.
How you going guys?
You alright?
Yeah, absolutely.
Are we here for exercise?
Absolutely, man.
I've got this belly to get rid of.
Ron Tom.
Me and my sister, we are like your biggest fan.
We love you.
Oh, what is wrong with you guys?
14 cases.
Doesn't that justify shutting down the economy, arresting pregnant mums, journalists, senior citizens?
Doesn't it justify it?
Totally justifies it and totally justifies passing the omnimus bill to lock up people like us just for having an opinion, right?
Just for having an opinion.
Totally justifies it.
I mean, you should have done it years ago.
It's been long enough now.
14 cases today.
We don't need to be in lockdown anymore.
We certainly don't need this curfew.
Are you saying to me with a straight face that 14 cases doesn't justify shutting down our economy?
Curfews.
You were at the Black Lives Matters rail.
You saw how many people rocked up to that.
Why can't they do it for this too?
Why can't they?
Because.
Because, because.
Because, you know, it's just, it's a disaster.
So what do you think the end game is here, mate?
Let me interview you for a second.
I have no idea.
I'm just really worried about the 14 cases overnight.
Oh, I know, I know.
Especially because there's been protests for three weeks in a row.
You expect these numbers to be through the roof right now, right?
We're super spreaders, apparently.
What do you mean?
I'm suspecting tomorrow's going to be 18.
I'm from the UK.
I've been over here for seven years.
My family live in the UK.
Since we've been in this lockdown, the UK, okay, they've got 4,000 cases, new cases today.
My family have been on holiday overseas twice.
My friends go to the pub.
They do things that normal people do.
What we are used to doing.
But you know the British are not normal.
No, we're never normal.
Wanted to make sure we're not fake news here.
Can I ask you one question?
I want to ask you, who's worse?
Dan Andrews or the poop you took this morning?
Two weeks ago, as you probably remember, I was tackled to the ground and arrested while reporting at an anti-lockdown march in Melbourne, Australia.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, I don't know where you've been, but head to standwithavi.com to watch what happened.
The following week, I simply couldn't even do my job due to the continued police intimidation.
They were even coming to my home.
Victoria Police made it clear that I was their target.
I was on their list, so I stayed away from reporting at protests here in Melbourne.
But thanks to all your help at standwithavi.com, we filed proceedings in the Supreme Court against the state, which in turn also put the state on notice.
And my boss at Rebel News, Ezra Levant, then asked me to go back to recommence covering the protests here.
So Sunday, I got the team together and I hopped onto the protest telegram group to do my job.
So we've just got from Telegram the notification that today's pop-up rally is at Chatston Shopping Centre in about 15 minutes.
We're heading straight there now.
You can see Chatston.
Firstly, yesterday, 21 people were arrested and I think I don't know how many fines were issued, numerous fines to protesters.
Meanwhile, a cluster that has grown to 34 cases in Casey, that's more cases than we had today in the entire state, wasn't issued one fine.
So you're telling me people that are actually spreading the disease are not being fined.
But there hasn't been one case to date that has been associated to any of these protests over the last few months.
So police are tackling, arresting, fining protesters, arresting pregnant mums, senior citizens for not spreading the disease.
But they're letting, they're letting people who are actually spreading the disease get away scot-free.
It's confusing to try to keep up.
This is Melbourne, Australia.
If you've got this and you go and spend time in other people's homes, you will give it to them.
It's disappointing, but what's happened has happened and we're concentrating on stopping the further spread of this.
Here we go, Chatston.
You know what?
We were so close that I think we're going to get here before the police.
So we're here at Chatston Shopping Centre.
We're on Telegram they've listed that it's going to be held.
So they're saying stop shopping immediately.
Go outside Coles.
So this is a flash protest unlike some of the planned ones.
They're trying to avoid the police shutting it down.
So we're outside Coles.
This is where they're listing the Flash protest right here.
I am you are the Army of.
Will it take one moment of silence for all those that we've lost during this lockdown and all those that we will lose if this continues.
It's a good stand.
There are many people that have passed away during this and there are potentially far more people that will lose their lives due to the lockdown measures that wouldn't have lost their life if there wasn't lockdown measures.
And why'd they choose Chatston, do you know?
I have no idea.
And are you going to get violent with that?
I am absolutely not going to get violent with him.
So it's a peaceful process.
The crowds are gaining here.
Police are still not here.
I don't reckon that dude with the guitar is going to get very violent.
I think they're moving.
They're asking everyone on the Telegram group to get out now.
I think they're announcing a new location for this flash rally.
It seems like today they're doing things a little bit different.
They want to keep police on their toes.
Six ports of cars, you have five minutes to leave and disperse.
Oh, bang on.
Police On Their Toes00:08:24
As I got into my car, police started arriving, and minutes later, they swarmed the shopping centre.
I've lived in this area my entire life and I've never seen Chatston like this.
And as I drove out to exit the car park, it had already been blocked off by a temporary police checkpoint.
So they seemed like they were right.
They realize that it's going to be covered.
How are you going?
Take your license in, please.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
So they're checking my details.
Keep it rolling.
Notice here how the officer ran my plate and then quickly called his colleague to help.
That wasn't happening to any of the other cars.
So obviously, something popped up on his screen.
Hang on a sec.
Is he coming?
He is.
He's coming. He's coming.
He's coming.
Yeah.
Yep, there you go.
Thank you very much.
Name?
I'm Raham Yamini.
You're the officer, the owner of the car.
Yep, that's all good.
He's working for us.
We've got the work permits.
We've got work permits.
For media?
Yep, no problem.
What's your reason for travel?
News and media, mate.
Oh, right, huh?
We're here for the same thing you're here for.
Oh, Rodo.
What are you filming for, sorry?
News and media, mate.
News and media publishing.
News and media.
It's yep, it's on the permit, as per the regulations.
Yeah, get him around.
Have you got some.
Try not to lose your paperwork here.
Yeah, that will be unfortunate because we probably need it another 10 times today.
So you just, what are you up to?
We're following the protest.
Right.
Basically, we're going to.
Where are they going next?
I was going to ask you the same question, Bob.
I'm trying to find out.
All right, you've produced your work permit.
Yep, they've all got work permits.
No worries.
They got times on there or yep.
Yeah, it's got the time.
It's all filled out correctly.
Bottom.
In this 9am to 9 p.m., the pass is for.
Thanks, honey.
Thank you, guys.
Thank you, Mike.
Thank you for your service.
Good luck today.
See you soon, eh?
Okay.
No worries.
Thanks, guys.
Look out for someone.
There's you.
Okay, this is another important moment where so you heard that?
Yeah, they're right.
So there's no confusion.
They've checked our permits this week again.
And yes, to quote the officer, yes, they're right.
We are right.
We're always right because we are rebel news.
What we just need you to do, we'll just wait just so we can clear this one.
Yep, yeah, yeah, no dramas.
I'm hoping for a police escort all the way.
thanks mate thank you mate you see what's interesting is what's interesting is that's the kind of um interaction with police i'm used to you You be respectful, they're doing their job, I'm doing my job, I have the permits, they're not the ones that make the law, they're meant to enforce the law, we're not breaking it, cool.
And I got no problem with that.
I support that, I back the blue as long as they're enforcing the laws and not overreaching and overstepping.
I also have a problem with laws that then themselves overreach and overstep.
That's the problem with the state of emergency powers.
But that's not their fault.
You saw that interaction?
Beautiful.
If that's going to be the interaction all today, I think filing in the Supreme Court after he checked my number plate, he's obviously seen who I am.
Filing in that Supreme Court has done its job.
It's the truth.
Filing in the Supreme Court certainly changed how police responded to me, even though I was now on their list.
Don't come to my house.
Okay, your name's on our list because there's Senior Company Barrett.
I'm from Frankston Police.
It narrows it down.
Yeah, so you can take me off your list because you're not welcome at my house.
So thanks to every single one of you who have helped me at standwithavi.com so far because without you, I would have likely been arrested again, then and there.
But that wasn't the end of the day.
As you know, I was driving on to South Melbourne Market as that was the next location protesters told me they were moving to.
All right, we're here at South Melbourne Market.
There is a bit of the police presence here already, taking down our number plate.
So I think they are expecting the protests to arrive, protesters to arrive.
There's already seems like they're at all the different entrances here.
See how this day pans out.
Media.
Media, we've got media credentials.
Got the permits, yeah?
Can you show them to us?
Of course, okay.
So this interaction is a little comical.
The officer walks straight for me before I even reach the market.
He knows exactly who I am.
But as you're going to see, he's going to try to trip me up.
On a positive note, because I like to be positive, they realize that randomly tackling me to the ground and arresting me is unlawful.
This time you'll see they played a very different game and I played along.
So they were just checked on the way out of Chudston.
But Chatston, what was in Chatston?
We're following the protests.
That's our job today.
What was in Chatston?
Who are you?
I told you.
I'll play along.
Their game was obviously to catch me saying something wrong that they then can use to lawfully arrest me because until now they've always unlawfully arrested me.
They need my words.
Did you just understand what happened there?
A local man, outlawfully within his 5K, wanted to say hi when he saw me, but police immediately moved in on him.
And then when he tried to simply film the interaction, probably for my protection, again, they walked towards the man to intimidate him not to, even though it's his right to.
How that kind of police behavior protects us from a virus is beyond me.
Filming from, what, five to ten meters away poses no risk at all.
But of course, this stopped being about coronavirus a long time ago.
Anyways, let's get back to the police pretending they don't know anything about me.
And we're about to see you publish this.
Rebel News, a well-known publication.
Do you have a license with your media?
Guy Relentless Demands Proof00:02:34
license copy of my license is here no no I don't bring it in case it's it's you can look it up There you go.
Yeah, of course.
I'm as good looking as I am in my...
I don't know.
Am I allowed to take it down?
It doesn't.
This guy is relentless.
He knows who I am, but he needs me to show I deck.
Then he orders me to pull down my face mask to show my face.
Fine.
Now he claims that the license photo that every other cop has accepted at all the checkpoints and every other police interaction until now, suddenly it's not good enough because it blurs out my name a little.
By the way, on the right-hand side of Victorian licenses, there is a clear license number that he can look up on his system and confirm my name, my face, my address.
But that's okay.
He's obviously fishing for a technicality that he can breach me on.
Not today, mate.
You want to see my passport?
Is that better?
There's my passport with my name.
The media unit has arrived.
Yeah, of course.
Not a problem.
Hi, Nicole.
I've got the letter from my boss there at the moment.
Yeah.
Who is your boss?
Rebel Media.
And is that you?
I'm not Rebel Media.
It's a company.
It's a media site.
So your mini report is this, is who's contracted of your mini report, which is contract, and the letter at the back gives you that information.
Who's your boss is that?
Ezra Levant.
They're available.
My lawyers are available if you want to talk to all of them right now.
Everybody's available waiting.
They're all on standby.
You can talk to.
Do you have a copy of this that we can have a watch with you?
You can take a photo of it.
Yeah, if we can.
Yeah, I'd love for you to have a photo.
That way you can show everyone this time.
Maybe we won't have the same problems we had last time.
Maybe tell the rest of the.
The thing is, we just need to make sure A that we're wearing masks and B that people aren't encroaching on the police operation.
When the members are actually going about doing their job, we need their directions.
Health Directives Compliance00:03:53
I accept respectful distances.
I accept that.
And when we were here last time and that happened and I tried to speak to the media unit, the world is seen.
I wasn't in anyone's way, but that's in front of the Supreme Court, so that's alright.
Yeah.
Told you they know who I am.
But the thing is, if the policemen are interested in you in a direction to do something like that.
If they ask me to move, I move.
I understand.
We've got to protect the public, the police, and you guys.
I understand that.
I understand that.
I support, I think we need law and order.
I just think that the directions need to be clear and that, you know, just because one commander didn't like me personally to target me, that's not really acceptable.
Yes, they're both with me.
So I'm yeah, they're my camera guys and that's my yeah, so them two are with me.
I don't know anyone else.
And they got the permits?
Yeah they got the permits, yeah.
So we're all contracted to the same.
Yep.
All good?
Seems like we got the all clear, until suddenly they start an entirely new line of questioning.
What's the Yumini report about?
The Yumini reports, news and current affairs.
So we're contracted to Rebel News.
So Rebel News is a news and current affairs site.
So I'm just one show on that site, which complies with the health directives, which is what you're here to enforce.
And how do you...
It's just done over the internet, is it?
It's clearly like a podcast.
So it's online, yeah.
It's an internet-based publishing site.
It's very big.
It's got millions of subscribers.
Oops, I forgot to tell him to subscribe on YouTube and to hit that little notification button so he doesn't miss anything.
But I'm sure he's watching this right now and he's probably already a sub.
He's a fan.
But let's keep playing the I don't know you game.
What's the site?
RebelNews.com.
So you do stand up in front of the table, yeah?
I do in studio and on the street, correct.
Do you get interviewed on camera and they play it over the internet?
Yeah, correct.
And that's part of your report.
That's my reports, yeah.
Do you see your name on the website?
Yeah, on the journalists at Rebel News, you'll see me.
I come up, I'm the Australian chief Australian correspondent.
It's a bad photo, so don't judge me.
Where did you do your degree?
Why does that matter?
I don't understand.
Just need to dot our eyes and clause that's a bit of a sign.
Do you ask all the journalists these kind of questions?
We know them.
That's the thing.
I think most of the cops here know me.
no no this this week there's a you would have heard the supreme court Yeah, so you heard about it.
So you obviously know who I am.
We know all the journalists, but we don't know you.
But I know about your Supreme Court action against us.
It makes no difference where I got my degree or didn't get my degree.
I'm a paid journalist.
That's my job.
My accreditation doesn't really matter.
That's not part of the health directives.
But if you want me to read you the health directives, I'm happy to do so.
Nah, she wasn't keen on me reading it to her because she knows the permitted industry and activity that I fall under that's written on the form in front of her is internet publishing and broadcasting for news media purposes.
That's their word.
And that precisely describes what we do here at Rebel News.
So no matter how hard police try to twist this because they don't appreciate my criticisms lately, I'm a legal journalist working within the Chief Health Officer's ridiculous directions.
Working Under Pressure00:06:10
We good?
Have you been out all day?
Yeah, we were at Chatston and then we followed it here and now we keep going with doing our job.
I was a bit...
It was a bit unfortunate.
weeks ago your unit didn't think it was a good idea to stick up for me but so what's going on Are we being detained?
It's all good.
You comply, you keep by the directions, you're all good.
If there's a problem, you take it to court and it changes the facts on the ground.
Excuse me guys, can we go do our job?
So, this is currently where the media unit are, so we prefer everyone to stay with the media section here, so, yeah, at the moment, we're trying to, we're trying to, uh...
Yeah, I don't think it's, I think you're in the wrong place, but, all right, we're out.
See you later.
Yellow.
They're in the wrong market.
The funny thing is what she tries to do is when they've got nothing left, she tries to question my accreditation.
It turned out that protesters were just playing with police, declaring they're going to South Melbourne market to spread the police resources nice and thin.
And it worked because the South Melbourne market was totally blocked off.
Lockdown.
Has it been good in Melbourne?
If it's saving the planet, is it worth it?
You don't care.
About what?
Don't function.
How are you going, mate?
Hey, here you go.
How you going?
Yes, what's your name, please?
Avi Amini.
Yes, can you please get some identification for me, Avi?
That's my media press card, Government, Commonwealth.
Yep, do you have a license on you?
I do too, yeah, but that's my government-issued password.
Yeah, yeah, no problem.
Do you want a copy of my password or my license?
Either one of those, be fine, thanks.
There you go.
You're not here to protest are you?
No, no, I've got my Commonwealth issued from the Australian Government.
Press Pass.
I am, I really love it because that's my press pass.
Can you spell your first name for me, please?
Avraham, A-V-R-A-H-A-M.
Surname.
Yamini, Y-E-M-I-N-I.
Your date of birth, please.
171085.
What's your purpose for being here?
I'm covering this.
That's okay.
I'm working in the media.
Do you have your copy of my permit I don't have on me now to be honest?
Okay, you don't have a copy of your permit on you, so I'm going to ask you to leave your outside of your 25k.
That's all right.
I'll get a copy now sent to you here.
I'm not going to move on.
Like, with all due respect, this is my job.
This is what I'm paid for.
You're doing your job.
Nobody's hindering you from doing your job.
You know who I am very well.
We have a current case with Victoria Police in the Supreme Court.
The last couple of rallies, you've understood that, and we've worked really well together.
I'm not here to bother you guys from doing your job, but you're not going to move me on from doing my job.
I can give you a copy of my worker's permit.
I'll get that sent.
I'll get that sent now here.
But and otherwise, I'll fill another one out here right now.
Otherwise, you can go ahead and issue whatever fine you want to issue while I'm doing my job with my Commonwealth press card, which is quite obvious what I'm doing here, working.
It's interesting, isn't it?
There's been zero cases for a week now, and they're trying to intimidate me to leave from doing my job because I forgot the piece of paper back at home, which is more than 25km from here.
This is all because of coronavirus, coronavirus.
For your safety at home, right now, this is what's happening.
The funny thing is, every other protest in this state since Black Lives Matter have been met with brute force.
You saw Tuesday, pepper spray deployed on peaceful protests.
But today, for some reason, there's a big police presence and there are some protesters that set up a stand.
Suddenly, COVID is fine.
The problem is, Avi Yamini is outside of his 25 kilometres.
We better jail him.
I think that's a good idea.
I need to fill out another work permit.
I forgot.
Can you bring it?
Thank you.
And a pen.
Oh God, you know, guys, no matter what they think about Monica, she's actually alright.
They know who you are, though.
I know, they're having a laugh.
All right, here you go.
Keep feeling.
There's a work permit.
Done.
Not a problem, mate.
Remember, this is all to save us from the deadly virus.
So will you guys be pepper spraying the climate change protesters today?
I'm putting you on notice now.
If you're here and you cause some issues, I'll be asking you to leave.
Alright, so under the Commonwealth Act, you can't actually move me on as protestant.
I'm not causing a breach of peace.
And if you fail to move on, we can take some action from there.
You do what you got at the moment.
Yep.
I never cause trouble.
You're here for media purposes, but if you cause a breach of the peace, I'll be asking you to leave.
Well, if somebody attacks me, that's on them, that's not on me.
You understand?
we're already in court over that one I just want to ask is police today you guys gonna take the same you're not gonna take the same no not gonna pepper spray the climate change protesters That's a bit different.
Well, that's our show for today.
Thanks so much for watching.
Until next time, on behalf of all of us here at Rubble World Headquarters, good night.