Dan Andrews to table legislation for new unprecedented emergency powers
The contentious bill will likely pass the lower house this week.
Controversial legislation is due to be tabled in Victoria which would grant the Premier an unprecedented level of power.
The Emergency Powers bill will enter the Lower House on Tuesday, where it will likely succeed. It is expected to replace existing emergency powers.
The Premier would wield unprecedented power to declare pandemics and enforce emergency laws under legislation set to replace Victoria's controversial state of emergency framework. #springst
— Shannon Deery (@s_deery) October 25, 2021
In an extraordinary move, the detail of the bill has been kept secret from the public. MPs have taken to social media to complain that they are only being briefed on the bill the night before voting on it, despite the bill's extremely serious contents.
The Vic Gov’s pandemic legislation to replace the state of emergency powers will come before parliament this week. Some non gov MPs very angry they are only being briefed the night before, claiming the new laws give a huge sweep of powers to the Premier @abcmelbourne #springst
— Bridget Rollason (@bridgerollo) October 25, 2021
It has been rumoured that if the legislation succeeds, the Victorian premier will be able to declare a pandemic even if there are no cases within Victoria.
The legislation does not require the premier to meet any standards or conditions to declare an emergency, allowing a state of emergency to be created in three month blocks for as long as the premier deems it necessary.
In other words, a permanent state of emergency could be created by the premier even if there was no outbreak.
Daniel Andrews now must come clean on the details of his new laws to extend the State of Emergency and pandemic mandates beyond mid-December. #SpringSt
— Bridget Vallence MP (@BridgetVallence) October 24, 2021
The bill has created an immediate outcry from those concerned that emergency legislation will set up a permanent parallel legal system in Australia, denying Victorians access to their expected rights even after Covid is finished.
Breaking : New pandemic legislation will be introduced to lower house tomorrow in Parliament. Will likely pass lower house this week, but will not go through upper house yet. No details of bill public yet. #springst
— David Limbrick MP (@_davidlimbrick) October 25, 2021
- By Avi Yemini
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