‘So many red flags’: Opposition Leader slams ‘extreme’ pandemic laws tabled in Parliament

Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy has savaged proposed changes to pandemic laws which have been tabled in Parliament today.

Under the changes, Victoria’s chief health officer would no longer make the final decision on how the state handles a pandemic, and public health advice will be made public.

The proposed new pandemic laws would replace state of emergency powers when they end on December 15.

Under the new orders, the health minister, not the chief health officer, would sign off on orders.

Questions have been raised over the proposed laws, which would grant the premier the power to introduce lockdowns for three months at a time, restrict movement, ban gatherings, close businesses and order quarantine measures.

Mr Guy says he’s “never seen such an attack on Australian democracy”.

“This is an extraordinary, extreme legislation,” he told Neil Mitchell.

The Victorian opposition leader says the government would have “no oversight” under the proposed changes.

“To go and enable one person, not the cabinet, but the Premier, with such extreme powers to allow one man to rule by decree, I think is breathtaking,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear Matthew Guy’s fiery opposition to the proposed changes to be tabled in Parliament today

Associate Professor of Constitutional Law at Monash University, Dr Luke Beck, says the Public Health and Wellbeing Act, which has been in use throughout the pandemic, was written several years ago and “isn’t quite fit for purpose in these kinds of mass pandemic scenarios where you’ve got enormous powers regulating every aspect of our lives”.

Dr Beck says the premier and health minister wouldn’t have free reign to determine restrictions under the proposed changes.

“The chief health officer will still be involved,” he told Ross and Russel.

“The minister will only have the power to make orders that are proportionate and on the basis of the chief health officer’s advice.”

Press PLAY below to hear Dr Beck’s view on what the proposed new laws mean

‘So many red flags’: Opposition Leader slams ‘extreme’ pandemic laws tabled in Parliament