Victoria’s controversial pandemic bill explained

Five million people in Melbourne emerged from lockdown in late October after spending a world record 262 days in lockdown. The Victorian Parliament is expected to pass strict new laws this week to deal with future pandemics.

Victoria's Health Minister, Martin Foley, insists the legislation "cements this Victorian Parliament and this public health response as the most accountable, transparent and public health-focused system in the Commonwealth". The Opposition Leader Matthew Guy describes the proposed laws as "an incredible attack on democracy."

The Briefing’s Annika Smethurst who is also The Age newspaper’s Victorian political correspondent, joins us to talk through the laws. Why they’re dominating news….and what they’ll mean for the Andrews government heading to an election in late 2022.

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