Police Commissioner Grant Stevens pandemic powers to be extended | Border closed to all of Victoria

Grant Stevens is set to have his special powers as Covid-19 chief extended under new laws as the border to all of Victoria is slammed shut again.

The state’s Covid-19 chief has warned the pandemic will “feature” in local life well into next year as key coronavirus emergency laws are set to be extended until after the state election.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman will table new legislation to State Parliament on Tuesday that proposes extending the critical legal framework until the end of April 2022.

The next state poll is due on March 22 next year but could be delayed if a federal election is called at the same time.

The Covid-19 Emergency Response Act, which came into effect in April last year, supports Police Commissioner Grant Stevens’ extensive powers to manage the pandemic.

Due to expire on September 17, it will end either on April 30 next year or 28 days after the emergency declaration ends.

Ms Chapman said the ongoing threat posed by the Delta variant required an extension to help Mr Stevens, who authorises all legal directions as state co-ordinator.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier. Picture: Dean Martin

“You only need to look across the border to NSW and Victoria to see how important these protections are,” she said.

The laws allows police to fine people for breaching virus rules, authorises legal directions to be issued or for exemptions to rules under the Emergency Management Act.

State Cabinet, Mr Stevens, SA Health, and the Department of Premier and Cabinet also support the extension.

Mr Stevens said a successful vaccine rollout would heavily influence if the laws were needed next year.

“If we have a huge take up around the 80 per cent mark forecasted as that minimum optimum, then I think it gives us the opportunity to reconsider whether we need to have the declaration in place in South Australia,” he said.

“It’s simply too hard to forecast. I’m as keen as anyone to see how effective the vaccine rollout is and what it means to us in terms of getting back close to normal as possible but only time will tell.

“The New Year is going to be here in a heartbeat and we’re still intensively managing Covid.

“I think Covid is still going to be a feature (half way through next year).

“What we don’t know is what the impact of Covid is going to be like on how we get on with our lives.”

SA Best MP Frank Pangallo.

Mr Stevens, who has just requested a 28-day extension to emergency management laws for the 19th time, said it was prudent contingency planning.

“I think it is reasonable and responsible to extend … knowing we can revoke it at any time if we need to,” he said.

Mr Stevens can revoke the emergency declaration but must seek Cabinet approval for any extension, which the Governor then approves.

Calling for more police funding SA Best Upper House MP Frank Pangallo said the government would benefit from the “extraordinary step”.

“The handling of the pandemic by (SA Police) and SA Health has been the perfect election foil for what has been a rather lacklustre government,” he said.

“Ironically, the Police Commissioner could find himself being in effective control of the state for longer than Steven Marshall has been the Premier.

“Mr Stevens is doing a fine job leading the state through this crisis with Professor Nicola Spurrier.”

Labor said it would also consider the legislation but has offered bipartisan support to Mr Stevens and Prof Spurrier, the chief public health officer who last week flagged an end to lockdowns when the 80 per cent target was hit.

Border shutting to all of Victoria

By Kathryn Bermingham

South Australia will shut its borders to all of Victoria, including to returning South Australian residents, in a bid to keep out the state’s growing Covid-19 outbreak.

Border restrictions will be increased to level six for all travellers, meaning even returning residents will now require an exemption.

The changes will not come into force until 6pm today to avoid queues at the border, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said Saturday afternoon.

“This is changing from level six for Victorian residents seeking to enter SA, and returning South Australians being at level four ... to all of those people travelling from Victoria being classified at level six,” he said.

Mr Stevens said those who crossed the border before 6pm today, or were granted an exemption to cross after, would be issued with a sign to display in the window of the residence where they were isolating.

South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens Picture: Kelly Barnes

He said the Victorian government’s move to impose a statewide lockdown highlighted the seriousness of the situation.

“I think what we’re seeing is a challenge for the Victorian authorities to get on top of the current positive cases and the news we’re hearing about the number of positive cases that are active in the community is very concerning,” he said.

“We’re learning, or have learnt already, that the Delta variant is very easily transmissible and a failure to act quickly and get on top of this can result in extended lockdowns, which has a devastating impact on the community.”

The border bubble for people who live 70km from the Victorian border will remain unchanged, but Mr Stevens said the situation would be regularly reviewed and might change quickly.

“If we were to see seeding of Covid-19 into Victoria in very close proximity to the border bubble then I think we’d have to reconsider our position,” he said.

“As with everything, we are monitoring this on a daily basis. There are no changes proposed for the border bubble at the moment but I can’t say that will be the case going forward.”

Mr Stevens said authorities were also monitoring movement across the NSW border from communities in that state’s Far West, but at this stage there was no threat.

Asked about lockdown protests held across the country yesterday, including in locked down Sydney and Melbourne, he said anyone at a rally was not complying with lockdown conditions.

“It elevates our concern about the potential for that Delta strain to continue spreading through the NSW community, and whilst it’s there, it’s a threat for us in SA,” he said.

Originally published as Police Commissioner Grant Stevens pandemic powers to be extended | Border closed to all of Victoria