Protester who accused a Today reporter of spreading 'fake news' on air thinks Covid-19 is a scam and refuses to wear masks OR get vaccinated... and that's why she and her wacky mates could stop us EVER escaping lockdown
Pictured: Anti-lockdown protestor Natalie Mendez
A serial Covid conspiracy pest who accused a reporter on live TV of spreading 'fake news' at a truckie rally at the Queensland border has vowed to protest every Sunday against the 'scamdemic'.
Natalie Mendez, 44, has become a habitual protester during the Covid pandemic, attending regular rallies against lockdowns, vaccines and border closures.
Ms Mendez, who claims she's a 'freedom warrior', doesn't believe in mandated mask wearing or vaccines, and boasts she's never worn a face mask, despite breaching Covid health regulations.
She appeared on the Today show early on Monday morning holding a sign that read: 'Freedom is not a privilege. It's a right!'
Ms Mendez was at a demonstration on the M1 in Reedy Creek, south of Brisbane, organised by rogue truckies who blocked the highway to protest against Covid-19 lockdowns and mandatory vaccinations.
She has been promoting the scheduled event on her social media in recent days, begging her network to stand beside her and 'stand up for their freedoms'.
'Our job is to send as many people as we can in support, of what could very likely turn out to be the biggest action of 2021 and signify the turning point for the Australian people,' Ms Mendez said.
'If you were to take a day off work this year, this is the day to do it.'
The 44-year-old hopes to put an end to state emergency powers, pressure the Queensland government into opening state borders and 'put a stop to mandatory jabs'.
And she's willing to protest 'every Sunday at the same location until the border is reopened'.
She's also encouraged followers to bring their children along to the demonstrations despite concerns that such large gatherings could become superspreader events.
Natalie Mendez, 44, has become a habitual protester during the Covid pandemic, attending regular rallies against lockdowns, vaccines and border closures
Peak-hour disruption: The demonstration was held on the M1 in Reedy Creek by furious truckies who promised to bring the major highway to a standstill
Queensland has avoided a widespread Covid outbreak and residents in the Sunshine State have lived with relatively few restrictions in place.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and chief health officer Jeanette Young have run a tight ship and often slammed the borders shut to any other states or territories that experience outbreaks.
As the nation inches closer toward the target 70 per cent double dosed vaccination rate, there are calls for the Queensland government to commit to reopening their borders in line with the national cabinet agreement.
Ms Mendez says she values her 'freedom and health' above all else, and has been vocal in her refusal to wear face masks or consent to the vaccine.
'It's my body and I'll decide what I put in it,' she previously said.
The self-confessed 'freedom warrior' doesn't believe in mandating mask wearing or vaccines and proudly boasts to her loved ones that she's never worn a face mask, even in grocery stores
The anti-lockdown activist who came out to support protesting truck drivers on a Gold Coast highway early Monday morning accused Today reporter Jessica Millward of spreading 'fake news' during a tense live TV interview
'I have never worn a mask since the whole thing was introduced,' she boasted online. 'I have accessed restaurants, gyms, yoga studios, hospitals, medical centres etc. Why? Because I know my rights.'
On Monday morning, Today reporter Jessica Millward approached Ms Mendez as she marched around in circles at the Queensland and New South Wales border with her sign.
'I do want to get my message across, absolutely,' she said. 'So what are you going to report on this morning, the fake news?'
Millward looked shaken as she turned her back to the woman, who appeared to be filming her on her phone, abruptly ending the interview.
She then told viewers: 'Okay, alright. There has been anger towards the media. The message that these people wanted to get across is that they want the choice to get the vaccine. They don't want it to be mandatory.
'They want the country to open up.'
Ms Mendez regularly attends anti lockdown protests in Queensland despite the state enjoying very few Covid restrictions and outbreaks
Anti-vaccine: A man holds a sign that reads 'The People's Revolution' beside the M1 on Monday. Tensions have flared within the trucking industry over some jurisdictions ordering vaccination requirements for authorised workers who cross state borders
Traffic was backed up for several kilometres after the protest began at 6am, with the location announced just an hour earlier in an attempt to thwart police.
Within an hour traffic was flowing again after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who had been supporting the rally, told the truckies it was time to move on.
Ms Mendez boasted about never once believing in the 'scamdemic', claiming she 'smelt a rat straight away' and has spent the last 18 months trying to convince her loved ones of her truth.
Globally, at least 4.5 million people have died of Covid and 215 million have been infected.
Of the 126 people with the virus in intensive care in hospitals across New South Wales, only one is fully vaccinated.
And yet, Ms Mendez is under the false impression that the virus is simply a means for governments to control the population, and has vowed to fight for any freedoms she can.
'We are not going to allow the government to decide what is put in our bodies. We are going to continue to fight for our freedom.'
Ms Mendez boasted about never once believing in the 'scamdemic', claiming she 'smelt a rat straight away' and has spent the last 18 months trying to convince her loved ones of her truth
Australian state and federal leaders have agreed to open borders and effectively put an end to lockdowns as our first defence against the virus when national vaccination rates reach 70 per cent.
The decision was reached after examining the findings of the Doherty Institute, who advises the government, completed a report on the vaccine and Australia's Covid strategy.
The Doherty Institute found if optimal testing and tracing is maintained there would be only 88 Covid hospitalisations, 21 ICU admissions and 13 deaths nationally in the six months after the 70 per cent jab rate is reached.
Doherty Institute chief Sharon Lewin said 'we no longer have zero COVID as a goal' once 70 and 80 per cent of the population has been vaccinated.
Covid-free Queensland and Western Australia both demanded new modelling to take NSW's recent high case load into account - but the scientists came back with the same conclusion that opening with 70 per cent jabbed is safe.
Some states are threatening to keep their borders closed or require higher jab rates before scrapping lockdowns, raising the prospect that Australia will remain a divided nation for months to come
State premiers have also stated fully-jabbed residents will be granted more freedoms as restrictions ease once those targets have been met.
In New South Wales, those who are vaccinated will be the first to get their hair done, enjoy a drink in a pub or dine in at a restaurant when venues are given the green light to reopen.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said on Monday: 'In that low-risk area of 70 per cent, which we should hit at about the middle of October, we can go back to things like al fresco dining, you can maybe look at pubs, clubs, cafes and retail reopening.
'But you put in place a whole heap of Covid measures like the four-square metre rule, mask-wearing, social distancing. So they're the sort of things we're looking at.'
Nationally, 34.2 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated, and 57.5 per cent have had their first dose.
Residents in NSW have rushed to get the jab to see restrictions ease in the state, with 35.9 per cent fully vaccinated and 66.0 protected by one jab.
What are the four phases of opening up?
A. Vaccinate, prepare and pilot (from July 14)
Arrival caps cut in half to 3,035 a week; early, stringent and short lockdowns if outbreaks occur; trials of seven-day home quarantine for vaccinated arrivals in South Australia; medicare vaccination certificates available on apps like apple wallet
B. Post vaccination phase (when 70 per cent are jabbed, expected late this year)
Lockdowns less likely but possible; vaccinated people face reduced restrictions; caps for unvaccinated arrivals increased; a larger cap for vaccinated arrivals with 'reduced quarantine requirements'; capped entry for students and economic visa holders
C. Consolidation phase (when 80 per cent are jabbed, time not announced)
Only 'highly targeted' lockdowns; lifting all restrictions for outbound travel for vaccinated travellers; no caps for vaccinated arrivals; increased caps for students and visa holders; more travel bubbles being set up with countries such as Singapore; booster shots rolled out
D. Final phase (percentage or time not announced)
Uncapped arrivals for vaccinated people without any quarantine and uncapped arrivals for unvaccinated people with testing before departure and on arrival