Originally Posted by
Stickshift3000
The State of Emergency provisions under Vic's Public Health & Wellbeing Act allows directions to be made to reduce public health risk (such as: wearing of a face mask in public places, etc).
It can only currently be in place for a 6 month duration (that date is coming up very soon); the Vic government is proposing to make it a maximum of 18 months. Passing this bill would result in government spending less $$ drafting new legislation every time the State of Emergency lapses.
This is completely unrelated to the border closure (by NSW).
You are being very kind saying it is saving drafting cost; Andrews is never scared of spending a dollar if it suits him. It gives the government the power to declare laws without putting them before parliament. It allows the government to suspend laws without reference to parliament. It means parliament may not sit until some time next year. It is a dangerous precedent and very un-Australian.