MP may support three-month power boost

A SIX-MONTH extension of state government powers that stop gatherings, keep businesses closed and enforce COVID-19-positive isolation won’t be supported by a Torquay MP.

Instead, the Victorian leader of Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party, Stuart Grimley, said he would consider a three-month extension to state of emergency (SOE) powers, if exemptions were granted to rural areas that were long COVID-19 free.

SOE powers, due to end on September 13, give the government the ability to impose or repeal restrictions.

Premier Daniel Andrews will seek to continue the powers via a Bill through parliament next week, and it appears likely the government will seek a six-month extension.

Mr Grimley said it was going to be close call whether a six-month extension would pass parliament.

“To me, this legislation is very much up in the air,” he said. “The last I heard was they were looking at six months, which is too long for us.”

Mr Grimley and colleague Tania Maxwell hold two of 12 crossbench votes — four of which the government needs to extend its SOE powers.

A third vote will come from Geelong-based MP Andy Meddick, who appears likely to support the government on the time frame that’s taken to parliament.

Asked if he would support a six-month extension Mr Meddick said he would “if that’s what has to be done because we can’t do anything else”.

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien has called for monthto-month extensions of SOE powers approved by parliament, and for the SOE to end when the state had no active COVID-19 cases.