A Western Australian couple who allegedly stole a tractor, drove it erratically on a Victoria highway and then crashed into the fence of an army base have been refused bail.
Police say the incident took place on Saturday morning with the tractor, worth $150,000, heading towards Seymour and allegedly swerving across lanes and crashing into barriers at about 10:20am.
Officers arrested Narrogin couple Quinn Schmook, 36, and Tanya Taylor, 38, after the vehicle allegedly crashed into a perimeter fence of the Puckapunyal Army Base.
Mr Schmook and Ms Taylor were charged with multiple offences, including theft of motor vehicle, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, dangerous driving whilst being pursued by police, trespassing on Commonwealth land and possess methylamphetamines.
They applied for bail in the Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Monday to reside at the address of a family member in Warburton.
On Tuesday, Ms Taylor's defence solicitor Nancy Battiato told the Benalla Magistrates Court that there were "compelling reasons" why bail should be granted.
Ms Battiato said that Ms Taylor had not served time in jail and had no extensive criminal history.
She argued that while Ms Taylor conceded she had drug issues and was drug-affected at the time of the alleged incident, she was ready for counselling and to engage with a medical practitioner and relevant support services.
Ms Battiato also argued that conditions such as not driving a vehicle and a police curfew could be added to the bail.
Mr Schmook's solicitor Geoff Clancy told the court there were good reasons to grant Mr Schmook bail, including his limited criminal history.
Mr Clancy argued that while Mr Schmook had issues with drugs and psychosis, a Court Integrated Services Program (CISP) report had noted that he was out of psychosis and wasn't delusional at the time of an assessment.
Mr Clancy also argued that Mr Schmook would benefit from treatment in the community.
Detective Senior Constable Luke Arrowsmith from the Benalla Crime Investigation Unit said the pair appeared "severely drug affected" and showed "the symptoms of drug-affected psychosis" when arrested.
On Tuesday, the prosecution told the court that there were compelling reasons to deny bail, including that the co-accused lived transient lifestyles and could potentially leave the district.
The couple's drug history, Mr Schmook's psychosis, and the "extremely serious" nature of the alleged incident were also cited by the prosecution.
The requirement of residential rehabilitation for both Ms Taylor and Mr Schmook before they could be released on bail was also argued.
The court also heard that the couple had allegedly driven the tractor about 80 kilometres while ignoring police attempts to stop them, that several motorists had phoned police about the matter, and that allegedly they had almost struck a bus during the incident.
Magistrate Peter Dunn rejected bail for the pair.
He told the court he wasn't satisfied that there were compelling reasons for bail to be granted and wasn't comforted that staying at the Warburton address would stop the couple from potentially reoffending.
Magistrate Dunn also raised concerns about the nature of the alleged incident, the couple's drug addictions, and their transient nature and potential to move around.
Mr Schmook and Ms Taylor were remanded in custody.
They will next appear in the Seymour Magistrates Court on August 17.