RACHEL BAXENDALE | The Australian
VICTORIAN POLITICAL REPORTER @rachelbaxendale
Picture: David Crosling
The Andrews government faces an uphill battle to pass legislation that would see its coronavirus “state of emergency” powers extended for nine months until December, after key upper house crossbencher Fiona Patten said she would not support it.
The government secured its last state of emergency extension in September only after it reduced the time from 12 to six months and persuaded Greens leader Samantha Ratnam to return to parliament from maternity leave to vote with Ms Patten and the Animal Justice Party’s Andy Meddick in favour of the legislation.
On Tuesday, Ms Patten indicated her support for the latest bill might be more difficult to secure, saying she wanted to see “COVID-specific” legislation, rather than a blanket granting of ongoing emergency powers.
“Come December this year, we’re still going to need to quarantine people coming from overseas, we’re still going to need to ask people to self-isolate after they’ve had a test. This is not going to end at the end of this year, so what will we do? Go back and extend the state of emergency? No,” the Reason Party leader said.
“We understand the government needs to have powers to provide some restrictions, but to do it in a heightened state of emergency is not the answer.”
…
Access the full article on The Australian’s website.
