Source: ABCnews
Victoria has recorded 1,313 new local COVID-19 cases and four deaths, as the government’s proposed pandemic laws continue to come under fire from the state’s opposition.
There are now 15,675 active cases of the virus in Victoria, and 394 people have died during the current Delta outbreak.
The new cases were detected from 67,105 test results received yesterday.
There were 457 people in hospital, of whom 79 were in intensive care with 48 on a ventilator.
There were 10,358 doses of vaccine given at state-run centres yesterday, as well as more vaccinations at GP clinics and other venues.LIVE UPDATES: Read our blog for the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic
Meanwhile, the Victorian opposition says it plans to delay debate the on government’s pandemic laws — which have already passed the Victorian Parliament’s lower house and will come before the upper house next week — so that parliament and the public have more time to consider the legislation.
The laws seek to replace the state of emergency powers with authority handed over to the premier and health minister, and have received criticism and protest.
Sixty QCs have signed an open letter expressing concern the bill could allow the government to “rule … by decree for the foreseeable future”.
Shadow Attorney-General Matt Bach said he was concerned the government was trying to rush the laws through Parliament.
“The Labor government rammed these laws through the lower house in just a matter of hours,” he said.
“Now, because these laws are so significant, at a minimum there is more time for the community to engage.”
