(11-16-2021, 11:21 PM)ElwoodBlues1 link Wrote:He is a lunatic, what other state is considering these non democratic proposals that strip away legal rights and give him dictatorship powers..

(11-16-2021, 11:43 PM)Baggers link Wrote:To add another angle, which is my bias... the mental health aspect.

Politics to one side for a moment and the necessity to implement strong measures to minimize the impact of Covid, particularly Delta, the mental health/illness/wellbeing impact has been far greater than many might imagine. And this won't be reflected in the figures, the full impact, for some time to come. Mental health resources are already appallingly under funded, under resourced and under supported... nationally and state wide.

(11-16-2021, 11:58 PM)LP link Wrote:I think patience is a key here, we should not disregard the fact that a good chunk of our Federal Politicians are Victorian.

The concept of a "Them vs us" (State vs Federal) mentality is a synthetic construct of media and social media that doesn't really exist at critical political and legal levels. I even use it in my Anti-ACB rants. That sort of finger-pointing works in the newspapers and on Facebook for trivial issues, it may motivate a State of Origin team, but it doesn't fly in the High Court and never will.

I think people should be far more fearful that assuming the pandemic subsides, the Federal and State authorities kybosh any and all forward planning, much like they did after the original SARS outbreak subsided. It's like those political claims that global warming doesn't really exist which are continually being raised after a short cold snap.

The will to act is weak, and the inertia to resist any or every change is strong, it says more about humanity than anything else!

Do we always prefer to preserve our way of pre-existing way of life, at the potential cost of lives, is doing nothing a valid action for either side of this argument? If so or if not how can either side win the debate?

(11-17-2021, 04:10 AM)DJC date Wrote:The problem isn't a "them vs us" issue.  It's a lack of leadership at Federal/State/Territory levels.

The creation of National Cabinet to co-ordinate the response to COVID was brilliant ... but its potential to bring about a united, "Commonwealth" approach hasn't been realised.  Without great improvements in leadership at all levels of government, it probably never will.

(11-17-2021, 04:58 AM)madbluboy link Wrote:Somyurek's suspension is lifted and now Labour are worried he will go against bill lol.

(11-17-2021, 04:21 PM)Mantis link Wrote:He most certainly will. It now leaves the bill in deadlock. Meaning the bill won’t pass. However there will be 11 days for the Dan Andrews government to grind away at another cross bench member to get the numbers. I know the existing bill is something we never thought we would see and imagine something far against our human rights. The same for our employment rights. Don’t look at a few amendments to quickly drive this through the system. Why are you in such a hurry Mr Andrews? December 15th deadline end to the current Act giving you problems. Reasons to lift more restrictions and many for ever? Considering we will have made the percentage of fully vaccinated people in the state. What was promised in terms of living with the virus. You conveniently need this new bill in place as soon as possible. To activate it into play. Then making each setting suit your needs at your discretion. Surely these few amendments are better than the original draft, but they are still lipstick on a pig. They still leave too many interpretations to violate rights without safety nets in place. A monitoring process to judge the actions of the bill. Actions of the government. Independent committee members. Not members of the same government in power or cross bench members with the same political views. A bill that is put in place to be fair for all and still allow judicial intervention when needed. Penalties and fines being holding a fair weight against a breach. For example Dan Andrews is penalised $400 for a no mask breach of health regulations yet his new bill has something similar for $20,909. This has been recommended to be halved. Still excessive. Still too many jail time rules to be locked up for 2 years. Still a sugar coated set of amendments. It needs to be written with care and fair but lest be honest strict regulations. Police enforcement rules need to be modified. Especially property access based on some suspicion of a potential breach of a directive. Some suspicion? It needs to be produced with proper consideration of the consequences to how the people will react and respond. Mental health needs serious consideration. Why can’t all members of the upper house have input to the bill being created? Why is there a rush to push this new bill into action?

Dan states the N.S.W bill is far more strict than his new bill. The New Zealand bill is far more strict than his new bill. The problem with the bill is less of a worry about what the bill allows. It is more of a fear of what it allows Dan Andrews and Mr Health minister Foley, to set in place based on the powers the bill allows. Victoria was once the best place to live. He new Bill needs to be replaced with something that can see better transparency over the current bill. No doubt. However not thank you for your input but we have considered your views which don’t count, so we will do things as we originally planned. We heard you but don’t care. Politicians have a difficult job when things are tough. Why though through this covid period did they have an approved pay increase which was substantial. Dan stated it was because they need to work extra hard during this pandemic. Yet many people lost their jobs. Lost their businesses. Struggling with reduced hours in the jobs they perform. To earn less. On wages lower than those in the lower or upper house. At least the New Zealand Prime Minister suggested and executed a pay reduction to all politicians to wear some of the financial burden all the people feel. To state we are all going through this together. Vote will take place soon. If it gets a vote into power and gets activated before the 15th of December it tells me there was a plan for this to help keep the Dan Andrews in power for the next 11 months. Maybe more. An agenda.

(11-17-2021, 08:22 PM)Thryleon link Wrote:Just quietly, and I wouldn't be the only one in this position either, but the health care workers at my place of employment all have missed out on the last 2 pay rises that were due based on our EBA. 

It is supposed to increase in line with CPI. 

Why theirs went up and ours didn't is abysmal and im sure he hasn't dressed like a human condomn to go to work either.