Of all the images of Victorians suffering through two years in lockdown, the most indelible surely is that of a heavily pregnant Zoe Buhler being arrested in front of her family by Victoria Police in Ballarat over a social media post.

Last week, one of the most shameful episodes in Victorian law enforcement history reached its rightful conclusion when police prosecutors formally applied to the Ballarat Magistrates Court to drop proceedings against Ms Buhler.