EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT – VICTORIA

New move could gift Andrews unprecedented power

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Original article by Shannon Deery
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 26-Oct-21

The Victorian government will shortly introduce a bill to parliament that will replace the existing state of emergency powers, which have been in place since March 2020. The draft bill would give Premier Daniel Andrews the power to declare a pandemic and extend it indefinitely for three months at a time. The proposed legislation would also transfer authority to issue public health orders from the state’s chief health officer to the minister for health. Shadow Attorney General Tim Smith has questioned the need to hand more power to Andrews, given his government’s handling of the pandemic.

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Citizens detaining fellow citizens a bridge too far: jurists

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Original article by Damon Johnson, Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 23-Sep-20

A group of barristers and retired judges have written an open letter to the Victorian government expressing concern about the COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) and Other Acts Amendment Bill. They have urged the state’s upper house to reject the bill outright or push for changes to it, warning that the powers that would be given to ‘authorised officers’ to arrest and detain people would be "unprecedented, excessive and open to abuse". Amongst other things, the bill would allow people to be detained indefinitely if it is suspected that they could potentially breach COVID-19 restrictions. Key crossbenchers have signalled that they will reject the bill, which has already passed the lower house.

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REASON PARTY

State needs better heatwave plan, says auditor

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Original article by Julia Medew
The Age – Page: 2 : 15-Oct-14

Victorian Auditor-General John Doyle has issued his "Heatwave Management: Reducing the Risk to Public Health" report. He argues that there are concerning deficiencies in the preparations for any new catastrophic heatwave. A total of 374 casualties were caused by such a crisis in 2009, and 167 in early 2014. While the Health Department has made some progress on the issue, Doyle notes shortcomings at Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, local councils and public hospitals

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, VICTORIA. AUDITOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE, VICTORIA POLICE, AMBULANCE VICTORIA FIRST AID