Geelong MP Andy Meddick to support giving government ability to enforce COVID rules until March
Geelong-based MP Andy Meddick will throw his support behind a six-month extension to powers allowing the state government to stop gatherings, keep businesses closed, and enforce COVID-19 positive isolation. This is why he is supporting the plan.
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A six-month extension to powers allowing the state government to stop gatherings, keep businesses closed, and enforce COVID-19 positive isolation is likely to pass parliament later today.
The extension to the State of Emergency (SOE) powers until March, that the government says will be applied for as long as they are needed, will be supported by Western Victoria and Geelong-based MP Andy Meddick from the Animal Justice Party, the Greens and Reason Party MP Fiona Patten.
The powers also allow the government to enforce mandatory mask wearing and other COVID-related social restrictions.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he would outline the state’s path out of COVID-19 lockdown on Sunday.
Mr Meddick said he had “consulted extensively” with medical groups on the need for the SOE extension.
“I will support extending the SOE. I have consulted extensively and it is clearly vital to protect our healthcare system, its workers, all Victorians. It is not the time for party politics,” Mr Meddick said.
“Let’s follow expert medical advice, and come out of this as quickly as possible.”
Greens MP Samantha Ratnam said she would return from maternity leave to support the government.
“I wasn’t going to be at parliament today as I’m on maternity leave. But there are 2000+ active COVID cases in Victoria and we need to work together right now to defeat the virus.
“I’ll vote for a 6-month extension so the CHO can quarantine COVID cases and keep us safe.
“Thanks to the Victorian Government for listening to our concerns about the lockdown and putting in place additional transparency measures in the Bill,” Ms Ratnam said.
The opposition had called for month-to-month extensions of the SOE powers and said it would not support a 12-month extension.
Torquay MP Stuart Grimley said last week he would not support a six-month extension to SOE powers.
Southeastern Metropolitan Liberal Democrat MP David Limbrick said the state of emergency powers were the “worst intrusion by government into peoples’ lives in the history of this state.”
Mr Limbrick said policing of the rules put in place under the SOE setting was “state-sanctioned bullying.”
“Any extension of the state of emergency will cause people to lose hope,” Mr Limbrick said.
Debate on the Bill to extend the SOE powers is expected to continue late into Tuesday night.
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Originally published as Geelong MP Andy Meddick to support giving government ability to enforce COVID rules until March