Thousands of demonstrators descended on Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday, protesting against vaccine mandates and Victoria’s new pandemic laws.
Protesters have called on Premier Daniel Andrews to resign as they rallied against the Victorian government’s new pandemic legislation.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday, making their opposition heard as they marched through the city streets and rallied outside state parliament.
Protesters held up signs including “oppose new pandemic legislation”, “stop the bill” and “sack Dan Andrews”.
Demonstrators also railed against vaccine mandates in Victoria, with the state government previously announcing authorised workers must be fully vaccinated by November 26.
Mr Andrews has also warned unvaccinated Victorians will be subject to COVID-19 restrictions “well into 2022”.
Protesters were met with a heavy police presence “to ensure the safety of the community and no breaches of the peace”.
Legislation giving Mr Andrews new pandemic powers passed the Victorian Legislative Assembly 51 votes to 26 on Thursday evening after being introduced to parliament earlier this week.
The bill will now head to the Victorian upper house where it needs 21 votes to be passed.
The Andrews government has 17 seats in the chamber and is believed to have the support of the Greens, the Animal Justice Party and the Reason Party, with each having one seat.
If approved, the laws will give Mr Andrews the power to declare a pandemic for three months at a time and allow Health Minister Martin Foley to approve public health orders.
Currently, Chief Medical Officer Professor Brett Sutton must sign off on public health orders before they are imposed on the state.
People found guilty of “intentionally and recklessly” breaching public health orders would also face two years in jail or a $90,500 fine and businesses could be fined up to $452,500.
An independent advisory committee for pandemic management would also be set up under the bill, with any advice given by the committee to the minister to be tabled in parliament.
Mr Foley said the legislation will ensure the state has “the most accountable, transparent and public health-focused system” in the Australia.
A statement from the Premier added the laws will “introduce greater transparency and accountability around decision-making”.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has promised his party will ditch Victoria’s new pandemic powers if he is voted in at the next election.
Mr Guy, speaking in parliament on Thursday, gave an “absolute guarantee” he will repeal the new laws and touted an alternate proposal on state of emergency powers.
“I give an absolute guarantee: when we come back to government in this state, we will repeal this law because it is fundamentally right to do so,” he said.
“This is a democracy. People fought and died for this democracy. The separation of the judiciary and this parliament is so important.”
A group of QCs has also urged the Victorian parliament to amend or block the new pandemic powers, arguing the bill will allow the government to “rule by decree” for an extended period of time.
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