Monica Smit (bornc. 1984) is an Australiananti-vaccine and anti-lockdown protester.[1][2][3] She is the founder of Reignite Democracy Australia (RDA), an anti-lockdown andCOVID-19 conspiracy group.[4] Smit gained prominence during theCOVID-19 pandemic as a critic of theVictorian Government's response.[5][6]
In August 2021,Victoria Police charged Smit with 5 offences after she attended, and allegedly incited others to attend,anti-lockdown protests.[2] She initially refused to accept her bail conditions, resulting in her beingremanded in custody.[2] After Smit's detention, her then-partner organised a crowdfunding campaign to support her legal defence.[7] The campaign raisedA$247,000 in five days.[7] She spent 22 days in custody before agreeing to bail conditions.[6][7] In July 2022 the incitement charges were withdrawn.[8][9]
In October 2023, Smit and RDA were charged byConsumer Affairs Victoria with failing to register a fundraiser purportedly for Smit's legal defence.[10][11] In May 2024, both Smit and RDA were found guilty for running the unregistered fundraiser.[10] In 2022 she indicated that she was going to take legal action against Victoria Police, forfalse imprisonment in relation to arrests which occurred during COVID-19 protests.[12] In September 2024, Smit was awarded $4,000 after theCounty Court of Victoria found in her favour. However, she had costs of about $250,000 awarded against her because she turned down a $15,000 pre-trial settlement offer and proceeded to trial.[6][13]
In 2017, Smit auditioned forSurvivor.[14] She advanced to the second round of casting but did not secure a spot on the show.[14] In her audition video, Smit stated that she "didn't hate being the centre of attention".[14] Prior to her audition she worked in sales for a decade.[14]
Smit founded Reignite Democracy Australia (RDA) in mid-2020, a lobby group opposing the policies of the Victorian government and Victorian premierDaniel Andrews, particularly concerning COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions.[5] RDA used social media platforms to organise protests and encourage public dissent against government-imposed health measures.[5] Smit gained significant attention in October 2020 when she drove a bus around Melbourne calling for the sacking of Daniel Andrews.[5]
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.[2] She was also charged with three counts of breaching the Chief Health Officer's Directions.[2] Smit refused bail conditions that would have restricted her from further inciting the public to breach public health orders, resulting in her detention.[2] This period of detention ended after 22 days at which time Smit agreed to the bail conditions.[6] Victoria Police later dropped all incitement charges against Smit.[8]
Upon Smit's remand in 2021, her ex-partnerMorgan Jonas, also a critic of the Victorian government's COVID-19 response, launched a crowdfunding campaign aimed at covering her legal expenses.[7] The campaign raisedA$247,000 within five days, despite some of Smit’s legal representation being provided pro bono.[7]
In October 2023, Smit and RDA were charged by Consumer Affairs Victoria with failing to register a fundraiser.[10] The campaign had raised $86,000 between September 2021 and October 2022 for Smit's legal defence.[10][11] Smit's lawyers argued in court that the campaign did not meet the definition of a fundraiser.[10] In May 2024, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court found both Smit and RDA guilty of running the unregistered fundraiser.[10]
In 2022 Smit stated to media that she was going to take legal action against Victoria Police forfalse imprisonment for arrests during protests against COVID-19 lockdowns.[12] Prior to the trial, she turned down a pre-trial settlement offer of $15,000.[6][13] 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.[6][13] 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.[6][13]
Smit organised anti-immigration rallies to be held at the end of November 2025 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The Put Australia First rallies followMarch for Australia protests in August which were promoted and attended byneo-Nazis. Organisers for the rallies stated that they rallies were not connected and that neo-Nazis would not be welcome.[15] On 29 November 2025,far-right figureTommy Robinson attended the Sydney protest by dial-in.[16] Northern Territory SenatorJacinta Price was due to attend the Sydney protest; however, she withdraw after her office received media enquiries about Tommy Robinson's attendance.[15]
Pauline Hanson spoke at the Put Australia First rally in Melbourne on 30 November 2025. At the rally Hanson blamed “multiculturalism and globalisation” for “dividing us”. Smit was at the front of the rally behind a banner.[17]
