A woman has filmed herself walking into a Bunnings store in Victoria to challenge the state's new face mask policy.
From last week, it became mandatory for people in coronavirus hotspot areas to wear a mask when they were outside their home. Failure to comply with that policy would result in a $200 fine.
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Several retailers, including Bunnings, revealed they would turn people away if they weren't wearing a face covering in order to protect everyone's safety.
But one Melbourne woman seemingly wanted to challenge that decree and post her encounter over social media.
After initially berating a Bunnings staff member in south east Melbourne, she's forwarded on to a manager, who calmly and politely explains that it's store policy to wear a mask and she would have to leave if she wasn't wearing one, unless she had a medical exemption.
The unnamed woman then said the policy was against 'the 1948 Charter of Human Rights to discriminate against men and women'. She warned she would personally sue the staff members and Bunnings for discriminating against her because she was a woman.
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Despite being told that there was nothing against her as a woman and that the rule was for everyone's safety, she replied with: "I don't care it doesn't apply to me.
"I am going to continue going in here and getting what I need because it is unlawful to do that. It is my right as a living woman to do whatever I want."
Another video circulated on social media claimed to be of the same woman speaking to police outside, who also calmly told her that she had to wear a face covering because it was now mandatory. She refused to hand over her details and was threatened with arrest if she didn't.
"You don't know what you are talking about right now," the woman said to the officers. "I don't need to give you anything."
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She tried to claim that she could sue them personally for armed arrest if they tried to detain her.
While she tried to argue against the rule, the woman was told that she can have whatever opinion on legislation, but it will still apply to her. A Sergeant came to the scene and it was then determined that she had a medical exemption and was allowed to go.
Bunnings has responded to the issue and slammed the woman's actions while praising the staff for being cool under pressure.
Chief Operating Officer Deb Poole said: "The customer's behaviour towards our team was completely unacceptable and we're proud of the way our team calmly and professionally handled the situation.
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"The vast majority of customers visiting our Melbourne stores are doing the right thing and wearing a mask, which is required under the law and our conditions of entry."
Featured Image Credit: sexenheimer/Twitter