Duplicitous Union Tactics in Draconian Power Grab
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has encouraged Victorians to call on minor party and independent members in the Legislative Council to vote down the extension of emergency powers in any compromised form.
The Victorian Parliament is expected to debate the Labor Government’s proposed amendment to the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 to extend the State of Emergency for 12 months until September 2021.
While many members of crossbench have indicated their opposition to the 12-month extension, a compromise of a 6-month extension has been suggested.
Quotes attributable to Bev McArthur MP:
“In typical union tactics, this 12-month extension proposal is Dan’s ambit claim for unaccountable executive power.”
“The Upper House can’t let themselves be duped by Labor’s political games of asking for an overly-ambitious year-long extension to the State of Emergency, only to make a compromise of 6 months, which they were probably hoping for in the first place.”
“If the Government needs to extend these powers in order to gradually open-up the state and get businesses back to work, then they should have to return to the Parliament at the absolute minimum of every four weeks to justify it.”
“These State of Emergency powers were written into law in a particular way for a good reason. They were designed to force the Premier to be accountable to Parliament periodically, even in times of emergency. That principle must remain, anything different is offensive to democracy.”
“The Premier has disgraced so many conventions of our democracy – the tradition of cabinet Government, by concentrating power in his Gang of Eight Ministers; parliamentary scrutiny, by sidelining, canning and restricting sitting days; and ministerial responsibility, with Ministers refusing to answer questions or even show up to the Parliament.”
“The Premier’s actions have demonstrated a disdain for democracy and any generous compromise with him by crossbench MPs would be a betrayal of their constituents and the Parliament to which they have sworn to serve.”
“We cannot write Daniel Andrews a blank cheque. It is imperative that this dangerous Premier be brought to book before he damages our state further.”
“The last thing that Victoria needs right now is any flirtation with lockdown measures extending well beyond September, with no clear objective of case numbers in sight or the real cost to the state, including business and job losses, suicides, domestic violence, mental illness and educational outcomes.”
“I will continue to oppose the granting of an extension of emergency powers to a Premier and Labor Government who have failed to protect Victorians even with the most draconian lock up rules in Australia and the rest of the world. As such, there is no justification to extend the powers to provide the government with a convenient excuse to continue to lock up Victorians.”
26 August 2020