The Victorian government has agreed to abandon measures in its controversial COVID-19 Omnibus bill.
Legal experts and civil rights groups had raised concerns over the proposed laws, which would have given authorised officers the power to detain anyone they believed posed a risk to the further spread of COVID-19.
The bill had passed the Labor-controlled lower house, but the government failed to win over enough crossbench MPs in the upper house.
“We have always said we would negotiate in good faith,” Attorney-General Jill Hennessey said in a statement on Wednesday confirming changes to the bill.
The amended bill specifies who can be appointed as an authorised officer and 주소모음 sets out the powers that Victoria Police and 링크모음 WorkSafe officers can exercise.
New authorised officers will only be given the specific powers relevant to their role, 링크모음 which they are suitably trained or qualified to use.
“These changes address concerns raised throughout those negotiations while continuing to deliver the temporary, necessary changes we need to respond to the challenges the pandemic presents,” Ms Hennessy said.
The Victorian Bar, as well as a group of 14 retired judges and leading QCs, had written to the government warning against the emergency measures.
Shadow Attorney-General Ed O’Donohue welcomed the backdown, 링크모음 describing the original bill as a “massive overreach”.
“Make no mistake, this has only come about because of the Liberal-Nationals, together with the crossbench members, standing up to Daniel Andrews and telling him this is wrong,” he told reporters.
“I also congratulate the legal experts and the thousands of everyday Victorians who have reached out to members of parliament, many for the first time, to express their alarm at this power grab by the Andrews government.”
Greens MP Tim Read also welcomed the changes and urged for a “health-led, not a force-led” response to the pandemic.