An indigenous man who renounced his Australian citizenship to head a self-declared nation has been released after refusing to acknowledge his former name in court two days in a row.
Murrumu Walubara Yidindji - formerly press gallery journalist Jeremy Geia - was arrested on a warrant on Sunday to face charges related to his alleged use of number plates and a driver's licence issued by the unrecognised Yidindji government in May.
He was remanded in custody on Monday after refusing to answer to his former name in the Cairns Magistrates Court and on Tuesday repeated his stance that he is "Murrumu in the appropriate persona".
"I'll take it on that basis that effectively you are not Jeremy David Joseph Geia," Magistrate Robert Spencer said on Tuesday.
"You will be released from custody."
Murrumu previously told the court that members of his nation do not fall under Australian law and that he had been illegally detained.
"That's not a sacred name," he said after being called Mr Geia.
Earlier, Murrumu was arrested in the dock after arguing with Mr Spencer about whether the magistrate should identify himself before he answered questions about his former name.
Yidindji Nation supporter Brynn Mathews said the arrest was "totally over the top".
He also said Murrumu had "dumped his whitefella name with his Australian citizenship".
"He doesn't accept the right of the Australian courts to rule over him because they... never had the participation of the traditional owners of this country," he said.
Murrumu did not take questions outside court.
The matter will return to court on August 20.
Mr Spencer said a notice would be sent to Mr Geia and if he didn't appear the matter would be heard without him.
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