Thread by @Voice4Victoria

Pandemic Bill update 🧵

As mentioned the bill needs to be killed in its current form but all MPs agree they don't want this govt reaching for the SOE again anytime soon. Something needs to exist that has hard limits on powers & much better Parl oversight. So the hunger games of the crossbench commences.

What Adem did was ensure the govt needs another vote, without giving them an inch as to who that would be. A situation made worse by the govt having told the entire crossbench just days before "boo hoo losers your concerns don't matter, bye". That humble pie was an epic serve.

Since then it's been a bit of a dogfight. Most of the crossbench won't play ball on principles and/or because negotiating this process is going to be an utter ballbreaker trying to gut legislation that thoroughly that quickly. The main contender that's emerged is Hayes.

Off the bat, nobody better abuse Cliff. My guess was always that it would be him or Barton. Between the two, I'd pick Hayes even before hearing his speech on the bill. No man who gets up & says he feared for the wellbeing of his kids under those laws is rolling over for anything.

Last week the govt stayed on brand & f**ked themselves further by trying to save face in the media saying they were having "productive discussions". One media outlet even quoted it being Hayes. This is nothing but panic politics. Called Cliff's office myself to ask about this.

He also later clarified himself on Twitter. Nothing 'productive' had happened other than him setting up meetings with all the stakeholder groups who had raised concerns, so he can make a clear list to go to the govt with. This was false from the govt trying to save face and

Even claiming they could be sitting again this week. No. There's basically no way they have time to draft all the amendments (there's going to be a lot), send them to other MPs in time to also have debate, sit & pass. So, no. Govt is lying, shocker. This is important though.

By claiming 'it might be this week' they blur timelines. If it was known for sure it won't be for another week or more, there could be time for SARC to look into it more. They can extend or reschedule sittings if needed, it's not hard. The 'it has to be these days' is just false.

Back to Cliff. After speaking to his office want to make a few things clear: they grasp the gravity of the situation & realise they are disproportionately representing the interests of the future of the entire state at this point & actually have respect for that. Novel, I know.

They know this platform, we've spoken in the past given prior SOE votes etc. The staffer took time to list down the major concerns coming from the community for a solid half hour. Thanks to many anon ppl was also able to pass on info about what's been going on internally in govt.

I've watched upper house votes for the better part of 18 mths. Hayes regularly takes his constituents concerns into consideration & has not supported SOE extensions. They understand the gravity of the situation so please people, don't be rude.

Someone needs to fix this monstrosity of a bill & using a checklist from Vic Bar/LIV is the best possible starting point. Hayes is 70, pragmatic & no man who said he feared for the wellbeing of his kids under the powers (& said the bill should be binned) is going to 'roll over'.

So this will be a very intense week of negotiations/debate as the govt no doubt try & be as difficult as possible trying to get it through in the current form as much as they can vs desperately needing that extra vote. At this stage, it'll go back to Parl next week when they sit.