Katie Allen (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To protect the public against the COVID crisis, governments all around the world have enacted special powers. On 16 March the Australian government declared an emergency under the Biosecurity Act 2015. On 15 March the Victorian government declared a state of emergency. On 3 August, the Victorian government went further and declared a state of disaster to enable police to enforce Victoria's first-ever curfew. Australians have tolerated a remarkable suspension in our everyday lives because we know these restrictions have been imposed for the safety of us all—our loved ones and indeed all Australians. But the Victorian government's recent announcement that it wants to extend its emergency powers from six months to 18 months has seen an unprecedented number of angry calls and emails to my office. Constituents in Higgins are concerned the Victorian government has failed to understand the need to strike a balance between responding swiftly in a crisis, which is what emergency powers provide, and ensuring accountability, which is what our democracy demands.

With a patient in an emergency, doctors must often step in and work swiftly—frequently without clear consent. But, when the disease becomes chronic, informed consent cannot be a casualty in decision-making between a doctor and a patient. It is likewise for our democracy. When time is of the essence, our democracy can and should take a momentary back seat. When time is no longer of the essence, our democracy must always be in the driver's seat. We forget this principle at our peril.