The Victorian Government’s proposed new pandemic law contains important new human rights and democracy safeguards and is a significant improvement on the current law, but further changes are still needed to fully incorporate the lessons of the last 20 months, the Human Rights Law Centre said today. 

With Victoria’s current state of emergency set to expire on 16 December 2021 and unable to be extended, the Victorian Government has introduced a proposed new pandemic law – the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill (the Bill) – to support the ongoing management of COVID-19 and any future pandemics. 

All states and territories in Australia continue to rely on public health or emergency legislation to manage COVID-19, however Victoria is the first jurisdiction in the country to develop a new law specifically for pandemics. 

In a detailed analysis of the proposed law released today, the Human Rights Law Centre examines the important new human rights and democracy safeguards in the Bill and makes nine recommendations for further improvements.  

Daniel Webb, Legal Director, Human Rights Law Centre, said: 

“Every state and territory in the country has relied on public health and emergency powers to manage COVID-19. But these laws are more for short-term threats, not long-term pandemics. Victoria’s move to develop a new pandemic-specific law to help better manage COVID-19 and any future pandemics is an important and welcome step. 

“The Bill is a significant improvement on the current law and includes many of the human rights and democracy safeguards we have been calling for. There is increased transparency around the health advice and human rights basis for key decisions, better oversight and scrutiny processes, and a much fairer approach to dealing with fines for breaches of health orders.  

“Key powers are also moved from the Chief Health Officer and given to the Premier and Health Minister, who are directly accountable to the people at election time. 

“However, further improvements are still needed to ensure a best-practice approach and to fully incorporate all the lessons of the last 20 months. In particular, the Health Minister should have to act compatibly with Victoria’s Human Rights Charter when making pandemic orders. People should also have the power to appeal their detention or other decisions which significantly impact their rights using an independent, timely, accessible and binding procedure. 

“All states and territories need laws to help manage pandemics. This Bill improves the current law. We now have an important opportunity to make it the best it can be.” 

The Human Rights Law Centre’s recommendations to improve the Bill can be viewed here.

Media contact:
Michelle Bennett, Engagement Director, 0419 100 519