State Government emergency proposal met with caution

The hoteliers association is urging the State Government to “step very cautiously” in its bid to make pandemic emergency powers permanent in SA.

The hoteliers association is urging the State Government to “step very cautiously” in its bid to make pandemic emergency powers permanent in South Australia, warning such a move could unnecessarily sacrifice thousands of jobs.

It comes after leaked draft legislation revealed the Government is seeking to give the Police Commissioner enduring powers when a state of emergency is called.

This would mean the Commissioner would automatically have the authority to issue directions affecting business operations and social gatherings.

The draft bill would also give the SA Health chief public health officer the immediate power to impose detention orders, and have people who disobey apprehended or detained if necessary.

The powers, which are understood to reflect those currently afforded to the Police Commissioner and the Chief Public Health Officer under the existing COVID-19 emergency declaration, would only be in place in the event a state of emergency is declared by the Government of the day.

The proposed legislation is in its infancy and is yet to be approved by Cabinet for introduction into State Parliament.

However, the mooted bill has been met with caution from the hotel industry, the Opposition and other MPs.

Roman Tazhdynov in his Bibliotheca bar in Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Australian Hotels Association SA general manager Ian Horne said the bill “can’t be taken lightly” and encouraged the Government to “step very cautiously” when considering the bill.

“We would always be concerned when powers are given for an unknown event in the future,” he said.

Mr Horne questioned the way the powers had been used during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re all been victims of the harsh restrictions,” he said.

“One has to say the jury is still out on whether all those restrictions were necessary.”

Mr Horne pointed out the three-day lockdown in November put 20,000 South Australians out of work and cost the hospitality and tourism sectors more than $100 million.

“We’re very, very cautions about making these sorts of powers permanent,” he said.

Australian Hotels Association SA general manager Ian Horne.

An SA Police spokesman said the bill was a “Cabinet matter and as such it would be inappropriate for SAPOL to comment at this time”.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman Kyam Maher said it was alarming a Liberal had leaked the bill to the media, suggesting they were trying to undermine the Government.

“Internal divisions within the Liberal Party is the last thing South Australians need amid the pandemic,” he said.

Independent MP Sam Duluk said he had not seen the proposed bill but was “mindful of the effect on civil liberties that the coronavirus pandemic has had”.

“I will be reserving my right on any such bill until I am comfortable that civil liberties are enshrined and that we don’t see an amalgamation of powers during an ongoing state of emergency,” he said.

Other Lower House crossbenchers were also contacted for comment.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman declined to comment on the party room matter.