All MPs were invited to a security briefing with Victoria Police on Friday afternoon,unrelated to the incident,following growing safety concerns. One MP who attended the video call toldThe Age that members across the political divide expressed deep concerns about heightened tensions and wanted to understand what was being done to support members,their families and staff.
The proposed pandemic laws – the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 – would replace existing state of emergency powers,empowering the premier and health minister of the day to declare pandemics and enforce health directions.
Under the current system,the state’s chief health officer,who is not elected,has these powers.
After former minister Adem Somyurek upset the government’s careful plans of needing three friendly crossbenchers to get the legislation passed,Labor was forced into negotiations with the entire crossbench.
Labor must now work urgently to reach an agreement. If the existing powers lapse on December 16 without replacement legislation in place,the government will be unable to enforce crucial public health guidelines,such as quarantine and vaccine mandates.
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes,the leader of the government in the upper house,said negotiations with the crossbenchers including Mr Hayes had been “productive”.
“I think that there’s room to move on what he’s suggesting,” Ms Symes said.
Three crossbench MPs toldThe Age they expected to see a new draft bill early next week after a weekend of discussions they believed would end in a compromise.
Outside Mr Barton,Mr Hayes and the trio who worked on the bill – Mr Meddick,Reason Party MP Fiona Patten and Greens leader Samantha Ratnam – the remainder of the 12-member crossbench,many disgruntled at being excluded until this week,have been unwilling to negotiate.
In a statement released after Parliament concluded on Friday,Mr Meddick said his daughter was in hospital until the early hours of Friday morning. She received three stitches.
“Like many others,I’ve been desperately worried about the comments,threats and intimidation that have been levelled at me and my family,as well as staff and,of course,my colleagues,” Mr Meddick said on Friday afternoon. “And now,my worst fears have turned into reality.”
In a statement,Victoria Police said the 25-year-old woman was spray-painting a poster on Smith Street in Fitzroy when she was approached by an unknown man about 11pm on Thursday and an argument broke out. The woman threw the spray can towards the man and attempted to leave the scene,police said,before the man followed her and threw the can,hitting her in the back of the head.
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Political leaders including Premier Daniel Andrews,Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and Prime Minister Scott Morrison – whom Mr Andrews accused of “double-speaking to extremists” the day before – condemned the attack,which remained under police investigation.
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