COVID-19 sees Victorian democracy fail behind closed doors

Labor apparatchiks may claim centralising power is unavoidable during crises. This disregards more sensible approaches taken elsewhere.

An opposition-chaired Senate committee in the Commonwealth parliament presently scrutinises all federal government spending. The national cabinet includes a majority of Labor premiers or chief ministers. New Zealand takes a similarly bipartisan approach. Their multi-party Epidemic Response Committee is chaired by the leader of the opposition.I call on Daniel Andrews to respond to the pandemic in the spirit of genuine bipartisanship, with real oversight of and regular briefings to the opposition.

I call on him to allow proper scrutiny of the debt our grandchildren will wear like a millstone around their necks.

Written by a hack back- bencher from the other side, doesn't nine pay state political journalists.

DanielAndrewsMP Why are these police officers not “social distancing”? Fine them too!

After all Emperor Xi is his role model!

BWAHAHAHA THIS IS A FUNNY JOKE!

Lucky this article is labelled ‘Opinion’, as it’s the complete opposite to my opinion and hopefully we’ll see giving the same amount of space to someone with liberal views, not just another member of the LNP. I won’t hold my breath though 🙄

Police could not catch a crim in a jail ! Union says NO ! go catch the rapist and sexual offenders out on bail hurting our kids. Then catch the real crims selling ICE destroying people and their families, leave us the people alone you bastrads ! Back off. Law suits for bulling !

Heir Murdoch has spoken.

I trust the vic and central government , and I want to live . Looks like he’s being pressured by big business lobbyist , who want the cheap labour rolling from Asia , now they can’t bring them in , costing a lot of money

The only millstone around our necks will be the existence of an LNP. Who up until the last week have been very quiet. Please keep it that way.

All Media... owned by 1 person.. guess who?

Can't read it.. typical.

what a rubbish article

Why is there no acknowledgement that this is written by a sitting LNP member of Victorian Parliament? Too ashamed to admit your own journalists won’t write hit-jobs for you? You have to outsource them.

This is the new ‘African Gangs nonsense’. The Liberals were an absolute disaster last time! Never again!

What a stupid article

crf_esq It’s funny how a lefty rag, like the Age can see it but hardcore lefties are myopic about this!

crf_esq Comrade Dan must be punished

So now the Age is the official platform for minor party whiney poos from a portfolio not even related tonthe current crisis.

Tyranny under chairmandan

James Madison owned slaves, Ryan.

This irresponsible shit is now blocked

Yep. Excellent objective writing!!!!! 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

It’s like Ryan lives in a parallel universe where Victoria is isolated from the rest of Australia 🤔

Ryan smith, sorry, I disagree with you. Im born & raised victorian, seeing how Covid has ravaged the world. I would rather have a more stricter approach than the sh*t show that’s happening in America. Imagine what you would have been writing if we hadn’t flattened our curve?

Under chairmandan

Dictator Andrews

Honestly it’s just opinion piece from a failed oppo. I’m amazed that other dip shit in Tim Smith hasn’t written this. So is he telling us that everything the Fed govt is wrong also. No bipartisanship coming from Slomo. The AGE Has become a shit rag

Dan Andrews and his team are serving us well. Partisan politics are so discordant.

What a load of bollocks. FFS it’s no different than so many countries around the world safeguarding their citizens. Article by a Liberal stooge.

Given the purpose to protect and save lives it is acceptable to some extent democracy would be temporarily compromised.

Sorry, why does a state opposition minister get a guernsey in The Age to throw potshots at the sitting government? Is that not literal partisanship?

Victoria has the best leadership. How very **interesting** that LNP stooge RyanSmithMP is not at all concerned with his own party’s “transparency” on Federal level. LNP has been murky as f to say the least. LNPfail LNPCrimeFamily StayHomeSaveLives springst auspol ShoveIt

Yeah it's all about the bucks

If Victorians thought that the democracy has failed, they would’ve been on streets protesting these measures... reason why u don’t see anyone protesting is because mostly Victorians agree with the measures adapted by the state government

Shut up. This is an extraordinary situation. I don't think we are going to fall into a dictatorship anytime soon. Take it easy and wait for everything to get back to normal.

The Age - mouthpiece for the Liberals😕

This is easily the stupidest thing I’ve read today. Partisan bollocks

Tough.. you can go to new york then

Every decision requires scrutiny. Whether federal or state it is important that is scrutinised to ensure the best decisions made. Having 1 party run the shoe just pushes own agenda. Just scrutinise

the shape of things to come....

Fairfax/Nine moving on the Murdoch market.

Family court cases, domestic violence, suicides, mental health claims on insurances have all exploded in the last 2 weeks- People’s livelihoods crushed. swapped one crisis with multiple others and billion dollars of debt to deal with. Flu kills normally 3000, covid killed 100.

Poor little IPA puppet

the great dictator

We’re in a Police State, have no say & no choice. I get that the Government must lead but the language being used is frightening and it is scary. We’ve basically just bent over and taken it. We need to realise that in Australia we are far from free.

I see the media wants us all dead again.

Have you raised this with your liberal mate in Canberra?

Pfft LNP stooge

Ryan, sounds like a bit of a grumble. Not a lot of facts, a quick history lesson (from the USA that can’t be considered with any seriousness) Then a democracy moan (which most of us are happy to forgo in the circumstances) and then a bit on civil liberties. What is ur point

Everyday Liberals and their media outlets sound more and more disconnected. Take it from some one that has been voting for them all along. In times of catastrophic circumstances, fire, Covid-19, Labor has been out there doing a pretty damn good job. Well at least for Victoria.

Andrews is a control freak besotted with power. Thankfully we've now seen it. All we need is a viable opposition, the current LNP crop are useless. One even sided with Jill 'weight gain 4000' Hennessey.

Anyone who thinks politicians whether left or right work for the benefit of all people is delusional. Unfortunately, we lack real leaders in Oz politics. Only care about votes & are puppets for unions & big corporates.

For those reading this article remember it is written by Ryan Smith, Liberal MP I agree that scrutiny is important, but this is partisan attack. If Ryan Smith cared about scrutiny in gov he would have attacked the federal Liberal government for same behaviour - but didn't

New number plates, VIC - THE COMMUNIST STATE

lmaoooo 'Ryan Smith is the Victorian Shadow Minister for Energy, Renewables and Resources.'

Drunk on power

Well they certainly abused their power closing down gun shops and lying about the reasoning behind it. Even if you’re anti gun flagrant disregard for truth in dealing with citizens should be a concern for all.

Great article

Fails in front of open doors too.

Education Union members might be voting labour, but parents (most) of homeschooled kids outnumber teachers by 2 to 1, and in a class of 20, that's 40 votes per class lost if schools aren't opened soon !

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