By Sumeyya Ilanbey
Photo credit: Eddie Jim
The Andrews government is close to brokering a deal with a key upper house MP to extend Victoria’s state of emergency and break the political impasse.
State of emergency powers would be extended for three months instead of the nine months sought by the government under a compromise being hammered out between Health Minister Martin Foley and Reason Party MP Fiona Patten.
The proposal would also commit the government to a “traffic light” system that would allow parts of the state to remain open in a future lockdown, rather than imposing blanket restrictions on the entire state…
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“Nine months is another overreach from the government,” Ms Patten told The Age.Preview (opens in a new tab)
“We need laws that allow us to stay open, safely, not be constantly living in a state of emergency. This pandemic won’t be over any time soon, so it’s good to see that the government is recognising that we need a long-term solution.”
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Read the full article on The Age’s website.
