Covid-19 laws pass parliament as Speirs slams Labor’s ‘dark age dictatorship’

South Australia’s new public health laws have passed unanimously, despite strong words from the state’s new Opposition leader.

New Covid laws have passed both houses of parliament, after SA’s Premier was accused of running a “dark age dictatorship” and new figures revealed how many new prosecutions were launched for Covid breaches.

New data shows courts have imposed 86 jail terms during the pandemic but 27 new Covid prosecutions have been launched in the past month.

The numbers come a day after Premier Peter Malinauskas secured a deal with the cross bench to pass new public health laws, leading the Opposition to double down on its criticism.

The laws passed the Legislative Council on Wednesday night, before they were passed by the House of Assembly on Thursday

Releasing data on prosecutions and fines, Opposition Leader David Speirs accused the state government, and Mr Malinauskas, of overseeing a “dark age dictatorship”.

Sparking a new political row, the Opposition wants to scrap jail terms and slash fines by a third, which The Advertiser revealed in a leaked paper.

UPDATE: I fought hard, but do not have the support. The choice was the impossible: vote to stay in the Emergency Management Act, or pass a Bill with safeguards that do not go far enough. #COVID19#saparli

— Sarah Game MLC (@MLCGame) May 18, 2022

Opposition leader David Speirs. Picture: David Mariuz

“It is our firm view that jail time is not necessary in the new season, the new era of Covid-19 that we’ve been living with now, for several months,” he said.

“We think that jail time is out of step with the expectations of South Australians.

“It seems Peter Malinauskas wants to revive Labor’s love affair with rack ‘em, pack ‘em, stack ‘em.”

But the Premier hit back, pointing out that Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and chief public health officer, Nicola Spurrier, supported the changes that will allow the emergency declaration to be scrapped by June 30.

“We’re reducing restrictions, not increasing restrictions,” he said.

“So these penalties are going to apply to the most base level restrictions because we’ve reduced them so much.

“We’re talking about someone who was Covid positive, knowingly entered an aged care facility that puts people’s lives in danger, which is why police and courts need to have options available to them. To punish people accordingly.

“But thus far, both the police and courts have shown a thoughtfulness to not be heavy handed, and we will need to have SA police’s judgment going forward.”

Police stand outside the Pullman Hotel in Adelaide while it is used as a Covid quarantine facility. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Latest data shows 2348 expiations have been issued during the pandemic, of which 2,041 people have failed to pay in full.

Police figures presented to parliament show 27 prosecutions were launched a month or 729 breaches under the Emergency Management Act since March 2020.

There were 86 terms of imprisonment for various offences.

The controversial laws that threaten jail for serious breaches at the pandemic’s end are set to pass parliament after the Premier secured a surprise backroom deal with crossbench MPs.

The new public health legislation passed the Upper House with Greens and SA Best support.

Under the new laws, a maximum penalty for pandemic breaches is two years’ jail or a $75,000 fine for a business and $20,000 for an individual.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

The new Public Health Act will enforce Covid isolation, vaccination mandates and mask use in high risk settings such as hospitals, healthcare facilities, nursing homes or jails.

In changes the Greens and SA Best sought during days-long confidential talks, a parliamentary oversight committee will be formed and an appeal rights mechanism for Covid patients launched, the finer details of which are still being finalised.

There will be a Covid-19 Direction Accountability and Oversight Committee while health advice will also be tabled in parliament.

Mr Stevens, who will now consider when to scrap emergency powers, has stated education was preferred and fines or charges were for serious cases.

NSW, Queensland and Tasmania breaches are punishable by a fine and/or a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment.

Victoria, NT and ACT laws only allow for fines that vary in amounts.

One Nation MLC Sarah Game, who was left disappointed at lack of government negotiation, labelled the laws “sloppy” with no proper safeguards.