The Andrews government’s push to extend its state of emergency powers for nine months is doomed in its current form after key crossbencher Fiona Patten said she would vote against it.
The state of emergency is due to expire next month but Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Tuesday morning his government would introduce a bill to extend it to December…
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Ms Patten, the Reason Party upper house MP who voted with two other crossbenchers in favour of extending the powers in September, said she was firmly against the latest proposal and called instead for coronavirus-specific laws.
“I was very clear last year that I would allow for a six-month extension. But in that time, I wanted to see the government develop COVID-specific regulations to keep us safe and keep us open,” she said.
“We cannot go another 12 months living in a so-called state of emergency. That is not normal life. So at this stage, I can’t support the bill.”
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Read the full article on The Age’s website.
