'Checks and balances are absent' under Victoria’s new proposed pandemic bill

A new proposed bill to divert pandemic powers to the Premier of Victoria will give Daniel Andrews and the state health minister “pretty much unbridled power to do as they wish”, according to Barrister Paul Hayes QC.

“It's very important that the checks and balances that operate on the executive to ensure that that power is carefully and responsibly exercised are in place,” Mr Hayes told Sky News host Peta Credlin.

“Under this new bill, those checks and balances are absent and so it effectively gives the premier and the minister for health pretty much unbridled power to do as they wish once the premier declares a pandemic or makes … what’s called a pandemic declaration."

Mr Hayes said one of the concerns is the pace of getting the legislation passed through state parliament because “there’s no urgency” for it to be implemented now.

“You have to raise the question, what’s the hurry?”