Pandemic Bill Likely To Pass As Panic Over New Variant Is Pushed
Written originally by Jack Kerley 30 Nov 2021.
The Victorian government, with the help of Reason Party MP Fiona Patten and two other crossbenchers, initially put forward pandemic legislation to replace the current temporary emergency powers.
These potential powers are set to be debated first thing on Tuesday, Nov. 30 in Parliament.
Two years jail, large fines for breach of orders, potentially indefinite detention, and the ability to suppress freedom of speech and the right to protests are just a hint of those powers.
Both Patten and Liberal Democrats MP David Limbrick are confident that the bill will pass, just not as originally proposed, the Australian Financial Review reported.
Limbrick is however, in staunch opposition to the passing of this legislation, the Guardian reported.
Victorian Labor’s hopes lay was with Transport Matters MP Rod Barton, who has agreed to vote to pass the legislation, Herald Sun reported.
If the amended bill doesn’t pass, the government could be required to, once again, extend the emergency powers. This is something that Patten claims to be reluctant about, AFR reported.
“These announcements today [in response to] the Omicron variant of concern highlight precisely why it is that our public health officials need these powers”, said Health Minister Martin Foley pushing the pandemic legislation saying, “officials need proportionate powers to keep us safe, to keep us open,” the Age reported.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews appears to disregard all concerns of the protesters, even with over 200,000 people knocking on parliaments door.
Patten however, took a slightly different approach, opting to label the protests as far right and back the pro government, pro mandate socialist group Campaign Against Racism and Fascism. A group that ended up verbally abusing a reporter trying to do their job.
The amendments that have been agreed upon are as follows: the threshold for calling a pandemic has changed; human rights protections; the right to protest enshrined; an independent oversight committee for detention cases; faster health advice; and that targeted health orders based on individual characteristics must be relevant, the ABC reported.
The maximum fine has been lowered from $91,000 to $45,000, according to the Guardian.