A Central Victorian publican charged with flouting lockdown rules by opening his business to dine-in patrons in July last year says he has a "legal right to fight for democracy".
Trevor Andrews made the remark outside Echuca Magistrates Court today, where he was representing himself to fight a charge he was issued for disobeying public health orders during the pandemic.
The publican had more than 20 supporters in the court room.
Mr Andrews is pleading not guilty to breaching the directions of Victoria's Chief Health Officer after allegedly allowing dine-in patrons during lockdown.
When the publican allegedly defied lockdown orders last year he said he was working within the law.
Mr Andrews has started an online fundraising page for his "court costs" despite deciding not to hire a lawyer.
The court heard police visited the Echuca venue several times during lockdown before charging Mr Andrews with defying public health orders.
Documents tendered to the court stated Mr Andrews told police the lockdowns were causing his business serious hardship.
In court the publican highlighted several sections of the Health and Wellbeing Act, under which he claimed police did not have the power to charge or prosecute him.
He also told the court that at the time there were only six cases of COVID-19 in the Echuca area, about 200 kilometres away from Melbourne.
The prosecution told the court Victoria Police relied on the powers that had been legislated and said COVID-19 had caused millions of deaths around the world.
Judicial Registrar Allison Vaughan will hand down her decision on November 23.
