Former Victoria Police chief commissioner Kel Glare has criticised Premier DanielAndrewsMP’s proposed new powers as a “dangerous grab for unfettered power”.
Former Victoria Police chief commissioner Kel Glare has criticised Premier Daniel Andrews’ proposed new powers as a “dangerous grab for unfettered power”. The omnibus bill – which is currently before Victoria’s upper house – would grant the state government extraordinary powers to appoint anyone as an authorised officer, which would allow them to arrest anyone they suspect of breaching the chief health officer’s orders.
Mr Glare says the move is without just cause as the state’s coronavirus caseload continues to drop, and he is concerned over the vetting process of the officers following Melbourne’s bungled hotel quarantine program. Former deputy police commissioner Noel Newman has joined Mr Glare in his criticism of the bill. The Victorian government faces an uphill battle in the upper house – where Labor does not hold a majority – and will be forced to rely heavily on key crossbenchers.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Andrews will ‘find an excuse’ to resign early 2021 and avoid blame: Credlin | Sky News AustraliaVictorian Premier Daniel Andrews will “find a reason to step down” early next year in the hope Victorians will be relieved at the final easing of restrictions and thank him for saving them, according to Peta Credlin.\n\n“Rather than blame him for rightly causing this second wave in the first place,” she said.\n\nMs Credlin said the Counsel Assisting the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry’s closing submission showed it is trying to “pin the blame on the bureaucrats”.\n\n“The same bureaucrats that the Premier insists continue-to-have his full confidence. You can see what's coming, can't you: a report that lets the Premier off the hook, so that the Premier can then let-off the officials,” she said.\n\nThis will lead to an outcome where “no one ends up accountable for the errors and untruthfulness” which caused the deaths of over 750 Victorians and countless livelihoods ruined, according to Ms Credlin.\n\nShe said Melburnians are rightly feeling “COVID fatigue” after months of spin over substance.\n\n“Of the hard work not being done, of Victorians being blamed for not doing the right thing, demonised and fined, when the mistakes were deep inside the government.\n\n“Dan Andrews is over this. \n\n“Especially, over the past few weeks, the man at the podium no longer radiates a spin masters polish but instead, a testy impatience with everyone who thinks that he might actually be to blame for all this.”\n
Read more »
Andrews can do anything because opposition leader ‘can’t land a blow’ | Sky News AustraliaDaniel Andrews should be “in all sorts of trouble” but he gets away with everything because Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien cannot land a blow on him, according to Graham Richardson.\n\nMr Richardson said the opposition leader was “hopeless,” and if Andrews contests the next election he’ll easily win.\n\n“This bloke just doesn’t land a blow on him,” he told Sky News host Alan Jones.\n\nHe said sometimes leaders need to be “punished” and woken up, which is typically the role of the opposition leader.\n\n“The way it is at the moment in Victoria, Andrews can do anything basically because O’Brien can’t really draw blood from him.\n\n“He hasn’t once wounded him.”\n
Read more »
'I am not the provider of public health advice': Andrews | Sky News AustraliaPremier Daniel Andrews says he is not responsible for providing public health advice after being pushed on Victoria’s mask mandate. \n\nCommunity leaders in regional Victoria have pushed for a review to be carried out on mandatory mask wearing as warmer weather approaches. \n\n“They’ll be there as long as they serve a purpose and I think they do serve a purpose,” he said. \n\n“I am not the provider of public health advice, but logic tells me that and I’ll be very clear with you that I’ll be a hold out on this because I think it is … low cost but of very substantial benefit. \n\n“I think I’ve acknowledged many, many times that it is more challenging when we get into the summer, it doesn’t make it impossible.” \n\n
Read more »
Andrews government increases extreme hardship payments to $800 | Sky News AustraliaThe Victorian government has announced an increase to the extreme hardship program which will see payments for an individual in need increased from $400 to $800. \n\nThe program, which saw 8300 payments handed out to date, was particularly focused on people with provincial and temporary visas, and undocumented migrants. \n\nUnder the program, eligible individuals could receive two payments over a two-month period. \n\nAuthorities estimated about 25,000 people would be in need of the support payments. \n\n
Read more »
People get addicted to watching Andrews ‘just to see how bad he is’ | Sky News AustraliaLiberal Party Vice President Teena McQueen says people get addicted to watching Premier Daniel Andrews speak, “just to see how bad and rotten he is”.\n\n“I’m sick of Dan Andrews getting an hour-and-a-half of television every day through the week,” Ms McQueen told Sky News host Paul Murray.\n\n“Please, for the love of God stop it.\n\n“People … can’t stand him, but are addicted to watching it just to see how bad and rotten he is.”\n
Read more »