The Victorian state government has agreed to tinker with its broad-ranging Pandemic Management Bill to win over crossbench MPs and secure safe passage for the proposed law through the state’s Parliament.
Seven amendments have been made to the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill after negotiations with crossbench members from the state’s upper house.
The government’s crossbench partners, namely MPs from the Greens, Reason Party, and the Animal Justice party claimed that “prominent shock jocks and tabloid commentators” knowingly and “dangerously incited” civil unrest around the risks posed by the Bill.
Further, amendments include guaranteeing resources for oversight committees; faster publication and tabling of public health advice that underpins the government decision-making; bestowing stronger powers on the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee (SARC); and “resolving concerns” around a clause in the Bill that allows public health directives to target classes of residents based on their “attributes and characteristics.”
However, details were scarce and there was no mention of changes to other contentious proposed powers including two-year prison sentences for individuals deemed to have breached public health orders and posed a risk to public health. Or around new powers for police to enter private premises without a warrant if they are enforcing a pandemic order.
Health Minister Martin Foley said the amendments were the result of consultation with public health, human rights, and legal experts.
“We’re confident that the package we have put together will both secure the rights of Victorians but, more importantly, keep Victorians safe in any future pandemic,” he said in comments obtained by AAP.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said concerns around the Bill, particularly the characteristic clause, were overplayed and that detractors were playing “political games.”
“The thing about these laws and our management of this pandemic is, it’s not a game. It’s very much about keeping people safe,” he told reporters on Nov. 16.
State opposition leader Matthew Guy has vowed to repeal the Pandemic Bill if they win government at the next election in 2022.
“The Victorian Liberal-Nationals have committed that a future Matthew Guy-led government will repeal these laws as its first act.”
The opposition is also moving 18 amendments to the current Bill.
The Pandemic Management Bill will establish a permanent structure for the government to manage pandemics in future.
Protesters even camped out overnight on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament holding “Kill the Bill” signs.