Opinion | By James Moutsias
📷: Joe Aramo
Premier Dan Andrews has said he intends to extend Victoria’s ‘‘state of emergency’’ for an extra 12 months past the September 13 deadline. Whether that ends up happening will reveal just how much our society values democracy.
The DHHS directions that enforce the current COVID-19 restrictions come under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act, and are only allowed to be made when a state of emergency has been declared. Importantly, under these laws a state of emergency cannot be in force for more than six months. Current stage 4 restrictions are due to run until September 13, which also marks six months since the government’s original declaration of a state of emergency. Andrews says he does not intend to extend the state of disaster, which operates under different legislation…
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As Fiona Patten stated, ‘‘We need to start looking at how we recover, not seeing the only solution as closing things down.’’ A 12-month extension of these powers will allow for an extension of uncertainty.
Read the full article on the Age’s website.
