A woman charged for allegedly refusing to use the Check In CBR app has been referred to a mental health examination after demanding to see a magistrate's legal qualifications.
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The woman appeared via video link in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday charged with breaching public health orders, including failing to comply with directions by the chief medical officer, trespassing on a premises and failing/refusing to provide a name or address.
The woman has not pleaded to the charges and The Canberra Times has chosen not to name her until more information about her mental health is provided to the court.
The alleged offending happened at a Tuggeranong store on Sunday.
Police were called after the woman allegedly refused to leave the Tuggeranong shop when the manager asked her to.
During her brief appearance in court, the woman declined to sit down and before proceedings began, she said she had questions for Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker.
"To recognise who you are, are you here as a woman or as a magistrate?" she said.
The accused also asked the chief magistrate if she could introduce herself, whether she had a legal licence and whether she had "rights to charge any woman or any man".
"Could you please show me your licence with your name and expiry date," she said.
The accused also asked if she could have a copy of the session's recording.
Ms Walker answered most of the questions, including directing her to the court registry for more information, and said the next occasion would be better to address a couple of other issues.
She ordered the accused to undergo a mental health examination to decide whether she needs immediate treatment or care because of mental impairment.
"Once that has happened then we can deal with the legal issues that you're concerned about," Ms Walker said.
During a press conference on Monday, ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said "checking in everywhere is really important" to "stop a single case of becoming a cluster".
"If we do get a case in the ACT, our contact tracing is going to be absolutely critical to make sure that we can get on top of any chains of transmission," she said.
"If people are very deliberately flouting the public health directions, then policing will take actions."
Alex Crowe
Alex covers science and environment issues, with a focus on local Canberra stories. alex.crowe@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Alex covers science and environment issues, with a focus on local Canberra stories. alex.crowe@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Toby Vue
Toby Vue joined The Canberra Times in April 2021 and is a court reporter after covering the round in NSW and Queensland. He has also reported on regional and rural affairs, local government and sport. He was a Sunday Canberra Times reporter. Email: t.vue@canberratimes.com.au.
Toby Vue joined The Canberra Times in April 2021 and is a court reporter after covering the round in NSW and Queensland. He has also reported on regional and rural affairs, local government and sport. He was a Sunday Canberra Times reporter. Email: t.vue@canberratimes.com.au.
