Head Of Australia’s Anti-Vaccine Movement Complains They’re Running Out Of Money For Their Mission
The founder of one of Australia's biggest anti-vaxx groups has revealed their mission is struggling financially.
Monica Smit from Reignite Democracy Australia (RDA) posted a video to the group's social media platforms pleading to the group's 75,000 followers to donate as much as they can.
"If we don't get more funding, we're going to have to cut down what we can do," she said.
"If you don't see value in RDA, then that's fine but if you do see any value in it at all I would ask you to please contribute $5 a month - please."
Despite asking for $5 a pop from 10,000 people, Reignite Democracy Australia has since that a whopping 60 people had chipped in... significantly short of Smit's goal considering the 75,000 people in their social media group. Ouch.
RDA was launched during the height of Australia's 2020 Covid-19 restrictions.
Reignite Democracy Australia - and the rest of Australia's anti-vaccine movement - is showing signs that its best days are behind it.
- Crikey (@crikey_news) March 25, 2022
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They also played a key role in the effort to undermine Australia's vaccination rollout - which has failed abysmally, considering Australia is one of the most vaccinated countries in the world with 21.1 million people fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
The anti-vaxxers also tried to pedal their medical misinformation by storming MPs' offices, leading protests, and criticising the death of Shane Warne.
The whole hoopla has proven to be unsuccessful, with Smit revealing running costs and payroll could tank the movement.
She revealed she has been living off 'about $500 per week since about November 2020'.
"My staff make more money than I do," Smit said. "I live off hardly anything. I do not have a glam lifestyle that's for sure and all of the funding is completely transparent."
According to Crikey, Reignite Democracy Australia has been begging for funding through platform DonorBox and through their app RDASocial... although neither of those show how much money it's earning.
RDA lists its cryptocurrency wallet's address as one way of donating to it. The wallet has received a total of US$7.35.
Plus, their digital movement has been stunted after they were booted off Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for promoting medical misinformation.
Their only remaining social media feed appears to be via Telegram, a favourite for conspiracy and fringe groups due to its essentially non-existent approach to content moderation.
Rachel Lang