Pandemic Powers Bill Passes to Give Dan Andrews Dictator-Like Control
Pandemic Powers Bill Passes to Give Dan Andrews Dictator-Like Control
After days of debate, weeks of protest and a marathon sitting at parliament: The Premier finally gets his way
by Rebel News
December 2, 2021
The Victorian Government’s highly contentious pandemic powers laws have officially passed the upper house of state parliament.
The controversial legislation gives the Daniel Andrews’ government the ultimate authority to declare pandemics and issue public health orders once the state of emergency powers expire on December 15.
The Pandemic Bill has now passed despite our best efforts to stop it. It’s not what we wanted, but I think the resistance to the bill made the final product less terrible. This isn’t over. Now we double our efforts to stop mandates and passports.
— David Limbrick MP 🌸 (@_davidlimbrick) December 2, 2021
So we are done and the pandemic bill has passed. The government had the numbers. Now we need to change those numbers come the election in November.
— Tim Quilty – Libertarian🌸 (@TimQMLCNorthVic) December 2, 2021
#BREAKING: Dan Andrews’ anti-democratic Pandemic Bill has now passed.
Now it’s up to the governor to WITHHOLD royal assent.
She can stop the tyrant.
It’s her job.
SIGN NOW: https://t.co/CmEAFFCovU
— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) December 2, 2021
The new laws were cemented into place with the help of Transport Matters MP Rod Barton who chose to stand with the government after intense debate both inside and outside parliament.
The bill passed 20 votes to 18, with the support of four crossbenchers: Andy Meddick, of the Animal Justice Party, Greens leader Samantha Ratnam, Reason Party’s Fiona Patten and Barton.
The "Pandemic Bill" has passed, 20-18 in the Upper House thanks to the support of the Andrews 4. In the minds of many Victorians these faces will forever be linked to this bill. Will history judge them kindly? pic.twitter.com/6S9VkaB3e9
— Rukshan Fernando (@therealrukshan) December 2, 2021
The proposed laws were the focus of intense public debate over the past month, and central to a series of protest rallies in Melbourne’s CBD.
It comes after days of debate, weeks of huge protest, vocal public discontent and a marathon sitting that lasted 21 hours to pass several amendments.
Victoria will be the first state in Australia to have pandemic specific legislation.