Victoria’s Opposition Leader has accused the Andrews Government of “trying to heavy” crossbench MPs to push through the controversial pandemic powers bill.
Victoria Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has urged Premier Daniel Andrews to “stop fighting and debating” the pandemic powers, slamming the government for “trying to heavy” MPs.
The Andrews Government’s pandemic powers bill hit an unexpected snag on Thursday after former Labor cabinet minister Adem Somyurek sensationally returned to Parliament to block the legislation.
The bombshell move forced the government to move a motion to delay debate, despite using an obscure emergency provision to expedite the bill only days earlier.
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Mr Guy said the Andrews Government was focused on “fighting about COVID” while the Victorian economy was “in tatters” after six lockdowns.
“It is time to stop fighting, to stop fighting about COVID, it’s time for the Premier and his Ministers to stop arguing, stop blaming others and stop fighting and start focussing on rebuilding our state,” Mr Guy told reporters on Friday.
“I wish the Premier would stop fighting with the Prime Minister and start focussing on rebuilding Melbourne, rebuilding our state’s economy.”
With Mr Somyurek’s return, the Andrews Government needs one more vote after already securing three crossbenchers earlier in the week.
However, Mr Guy said the government had not spoken with the Opposition after he offered to negotiate a better bill.
“They haven’t spoken to the Opposition. I know they’re trying to heavy a couple crossbenchers in the upper house,” he said.
“Is that really the way to do business to get pandemic laws through? Shouldn’t they be speaking to everyone in the Parliament to try and get something that unites us not divides us?
“Unfortunately for Victoria the current government, particularly its Premier, only operate by division.”
Mr Guy said the Opposition was now focused on bringing business back to the Melbourne CBD, pushing the Coalition’s plan of free public transport into the city to boost economic activity.
“We can’t get the rest of the city going if we can’t get central Melbourne going,” he said.
“This is where we need overseas students to return, this is where we need office workers - both private and public sectors - to return.
“It’s about reopening, recovering and rebuilding that’s what the Liberal and National Parties are focused on. The parliament today is yet again focussed on the pandemic legislation of the government.”
The proposed bill would remove the power to declare a pandemic from the Chief Health Officer and hand it to the Premier, along with the ability to extend the state of emergency in three-month blocks.
The Health Minister will also be able to introduce “pandemic orders” - without proper parliamentary approval - which carries a penalty of up to two years in jail for those caught breaching the orders.
The existing emergency provisions are set to expire on December 15.
https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5
2021-11-19 09:08:24Z
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