The extension was passed by the Victorian Parliament last week after Premier Dan Andrews secured crossbench support
Ms Ryan said the Nationals opposed the blank cheque State of Emergency extension, instead proposing it be reviewed by the State Parliament every month to secure accountability and transparency in government spending and decision-making.
The extension was supported by Reason Party MPs Ali Cupper and Fiona Patten, as well as the Animal Justice Party and The Greens.
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Ms Ryan said Ms Cupper claimed to have secured a special deal for regional Victoria, but this was later rubbished by Health Minister Martin Foley.
“The extension delivered Daniel Andrews unrestrained power over the lives of regional people,” Ms Ryan said.
“The last five-day lockdown - a circuit breaker for COVID cases in Melbourne - saw our kids again told not to go to school, separated us from our loved ones and cost our local businesses tens of thousands of dollars in lost stock and cancelled bookings.
“Extending the State of Emergency until the end of the year means we'll be in a constant fear of lockdown.
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“How can our tourism and hospitality sectors recover if people have no confidence that planning a weekend away won't end in mass cancellations at the last minute?
“The Health Minister has refused to guarantee that regional Victorians won't be locked down again due to COVID outbreaks that are entirely limited to Melbourne.
“We know from the successful experience in NSW that good contact tracing is the pillar of a good public health strategy,” Ms Ryan said.
“But individuals, families, businesses and communities across the Euroa electorate are still living in a state of uncertainty because the Andrews Labor Government still isn't confident it has the basics right.
“A grubby last-minute backroom deal with Ali Cupper's Reason Party, Animal Justice and The Greens Party has helped Daniel Andrews hold onto power for another nine months with no promise that we won't be in and out of statewide lockdown because of outbreaks in Melbourne.”
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A Victorian Government Spokesperson said some of the key public health protections required to manage this pandemic are only available when a State of Emergency has been declared under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.
Those include management of hotel quarantine, implementing mandatory face coverings, and current or past restrictions designed to slow the spread of the virus.
“Victoria’s key public health protections will be able to remain in place until December if required, after the State of Emergency legislation passed through Parliament this week,” the government spokesperson said.
“The legislative changes mean we’re able to keep the current systems in place, including hotel quarantine and requiring people with coronavirus to isolate for 14 days, to ensure the safety of all Victorians while we continue to live with this deadly virus.”
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