Canning by-election independent candidate Teresa van Lieshout said she would not hand herself in despite an arrest warrant being issued after she failed to turn up to a court hearing on Tuesday.
She was due to appear in the Fremantle magistrates court on charges of breaching bail, stealing and wilful unlawful damage in relation to forcibly removing a wheel clamp attached to her car in 2013.
Ms van Lieshout also did not return to a hearing on September 3 after it was adjourned for lunch.
She said the wheel clamp was attached to her car after she refused to pay outstanding parking fines.
She said the arrest warrant and court case was an attempt by the government ‘to destroy her political pursuits’ and she would not give up her freedom but did not say how.
“I’m not going to hand myself in,” she said.
“I will 100 per cent do everything to maintain my freedom.
“I’m not going to be locked up…there’s lots of strategies.”
Ms van Lieshout said she would still be out in public but would no longer be able to attend upcoming public forums with other Canning candidates.
“I’m going to be out in the public as much as possible,” she said.
“I won’t be able to attend those forums.
“When I speak publicly I’m a powerful speaker, I’ve given speeches in public which has made people go to tears.”
She said she would not pay the government any more money.
“I refuse to give money to the government,” she said.
Ms van Lieshout was a teacher but the teacher’s registration board suspended her registration in April.
She said her registration was suspended because of the wheel clamp charges.
“It’s nothing to do with teaching or children, this is about this car clamp,” she said.
“As far as I’m concerned, they’ve stolen my teacher registration.”
