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Victorian Government Proposes New Pandemic Laws

Victorian Government Proposes New Pandemic Laws

The Opposition has labelled the legislation a 'dangerous overreach' for giving the Premier more power.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

The Victorian government has unveiled new pandemic laws.

The piece of legislation is being introduced today and will hopefully replace Victoria's current and controversial state of emergency powers.

These powers have been broadened during the course of the coronavirus pandemic and helps control what the state is allowed to ask of its citizens in relation to health orders.

The new laws being suggested by the Victorian government will give Premier Daniel Andrews greater power around declaring a pandemic as well as issuing health orders.

The Victorian leader would be able to declare a pandemic after consulting with the state's chief health officer.

Diego Fedele/SOPA Images/ZUMA Wire/Alamy Live News

They would be able to introduce health orders related to this declaration and extend it by three months at a time to indefinitely.

The Victorian Health Minister would be in charge of issuing special orders under a pandemic situation, which used to be a power owned by the chief health officer.

The Herald Sun said the laws would let the government 'restrict movement, ban public gatherings, close businesses or order quarantine requirements as required'.

However, the legislation would require all health advice given to the government be made public and also tabled in parliament.

There would be a committee of 'public health and human rights experts' who would be brought in to review new public health orders being considered by the government.

The Victorian Opposition is furious at the proposals.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy wrote on Twitter: "This Bill is a very dangerous overreach, placing all power - all power - in the Premier, with no oversight. A massive threat to an Australian democracy. It must be opposed."

He was reacting to the part of the legislation that allows the government to declare a pandemic even if there have been zero cases of a disease in the community.

Liberal MP Tim Smith added: "Our liberties and freedoms have been under assault from this Labor government for 18 months. It must end.

"The Coalition will seek to amend the Victorian Constitution to stop Andrews' terrifying power grab.

"This is an attempted coup on the people of Victoria by Daniel Andrews. It's extreme legislation that will be opposed by every sinew the Liberal Party has in it."

The government is hoping the law will be approved and enacted by the time the current state of emergency powers expire.

Featured Image Credit: Michael Currie/Speed Media/Alamy Live News

Topics: Australia