Stop the Victorian lockdown laws from passing State Parliament
Stop the Victorian lockdown laws from passing State Parliament
The issue
The Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 (Vic), introduced by Victorian Government would give the Premier of Victoria sweeping new powers, without any accountability.
This petition, which is addressed to all 128 members of the Victorian Parliament, calls on our politicians to reject this proposed legislation on the basis that it is undemocratic, unethical, and radically increasing the power of our politicians.
WHAT DOES THE NEW LEGISLATION MEAN FOR VICTORIANS?
- One person (the Premier of the day) will have the ability to declare a pandemic. The proposed legislation would allow the Premier to make this decision without following the health advice and without the requirement for any globally recorded cases.
- The new legislation will shift power from the Chief Health Officer (a medical professional), to the Premier of Victoria.
- The legislation empowers the Premier to extend the Pandemic Declaration for up to 3 months at a time, with no limit placed on the number of extensions.
- The Premier and the Minister for Health will have the power to issue public health orders and restrictions without any restrictions to their power.
- The Minister can make “any order” and the only requirement for issuing these orders is if the Premier or Minister for Health believe it is “reasonably necessary.”
- “The Bill expressly contemplates that the Minister can make a pandemic order targeting persons on the basis of their political beliefs or activities if the Minister forms the view that this is “reasonably necessary to protect public health”. Essentially allowing the Minister for health to issue public health orders on the basis of your political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race and other ‘protected attributes’.
This proposed legislation will grant the Premier of Victoria unchecked powers, and no accountability. We call on all Victorian politicians to reject this proposed legislation on the basis that is undemocratic, unethical, and radically increasing the power of our politicians.
The President of the Victorian Bar, Christopher Blanden described the proposed laws as “appalling.”
“Christopher Blanden, QC, said the new laws, designed to replace sweeping state of emergency powers, would give the Premier unprecedented power with little to no checks and balances.”
14 lawyers have openly criticised this legislation. You can find out more about their comments here: https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/hub/media/tearout-excerpt/4071/211028---Open-Letter-re-PHW-(APM)-Bill-2021-(Vic)-[FINAL].pdf
SIGN NOW, to prevent Premier Daniel Andrews from having unchecked powers, that threaten our democracy and our freedoms!
673
The issue
The Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 (Vic), introduced by Victorian Government would give the Premier of Victoria sweeping new powers, without any accountability.
This petition, which is addressed to all 128 members of the Victorian Parliament, calls on our politicians to reject this proposed legislation on the basis that it is undemocratic, unethical, and radically increasing the power of our politicians.
WHAT DOES THE NEW LEGISLATION MEAN FOR VICTORIANS?
- One person (the Premier of the day) will have the ability to declare a pandemic. The proposed legislation would allow the Premier to make this decision without following the health advice and without the requirement for any globally recorded cases.
- The new legislation will shift power from the Chief Health Officer (a medical professional), to the Premier of Victoria.
- The legislation empowers the Premier to extend the Pandemic Declaration for up to 3 months at a time, with no limit placed on the number of extensions.
- The Premier and the Minister for Health will have the power to issue public health orders and restrictions without any restrictions to their power.
- The Minister can make “any order” and the only requirement for issuing these orders is if the Premier or Minister for Health believe it is “reasonably necessary.”
- “The Bill expressly contemplates that the Minister can make a pandemic order targeting persons on the basis of their political beliefs or activities if the Minister forms the view that this is “reasonably necessary to protect public health”. Essentially allowing the Minister for health to issue public health orders on the basis of your political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race and other ‘protected attributes’.
This proposed legislation will grant the Premier of Victoria unchecked powers, and no accountability. We call on all Victorian politicians to reject this proposed legislation on the basis that is undemocratic, unethical, and radically increasing the power of our politicians.
The President of the Victorian Bar, Christopher Blanden described the proposed laws as “appalling.”
“Christopher Blanden, QC, said the new laws, designed to replace sweeping state of emergency powers, would give the Premier unprecedented power with little to no checks and balances.”
14 lawyers have openly criticised this legislation. You can find out more about their comments here: https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/hub/media/tearout-excerpt/4071/211028---Open-Letter-re-PHW-(APM)-Bill-2021-(Vic)-[FINAL].pdf
SIGN NOW, to prevent Premier Daniel Andrews from having unchecked powers, that threaten our democracy and our freedoms!
673
The Decision Makers
Petition created on 30 October 2021