Daniel Andrews and Matthew Guy have engaged in a fiery exchange over the pandemic bill – with the Victorian premier accusing the opposition leader of "cuddling up to anti-vaxxers".
It comes after the Andrews government was forced to make changes overnight to its pandemic management bill ahead of Victorian parliament resuming today.
The Victorian Government reached an agreement with three crossbenchers which includes a requirement that the premier be “satisfied on reasonable grounds” that it is necessary to declare a pandemic.
Under the deal, the maximum financial penalty for not complying with a pandemic order with also be halved.
It follows concerns the draft bill allowed the state government to make orders on specific groups of people based on their characteristics – such as religion, age, sexuality or political activity.
The Opposition was not satisfied with the amendments, with leader Matthew Guy saying it is nothing more than a 'tinkering around the edges'.
Mr Guy took up the attack in parliament in Question Time – urging the government to scrap the bill, citing "community and legal fears" that the bill is "heavy handed" and gives "extraordinary power" to the premier and health minister.
Premier Andrews returned fire and said his government would not be "changing its position" – accusing Mr Guy and the opposition of "cuddling up to anti-vaxxers".
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