Tim Quilty and Tania Maxwell worried about coronavirus response

North East MPs Tim Quilty and Tania Maxwell both said they would vote in favour of the government's COVID Omnibus Bill despite their concerns.

Mr Quilty said his speech was a warning that the government would have to be accountable and called on them to have the respect to tell Victorians the plan for reducing restrictions.

"We're not in charge of the train set so during this crisis, we've let you play with it on a promise that anything you do will be necessary for the public good," he said.

"You do not have an unlimited pool of public consent to draw from.

"The winds of dissent are rising because it is clear you have been excessively heavy-handed and have imposed more restrictions than were required."

He acknowledged restrictions had stopped the spread of the virus, but said hunters and fishers out by themselves would not do any harm.

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"These restrictions do not pass the pub test and will never stand up to court scrutiny. Blind Freddie can see that putting on a mask, breathing from an air tank and submerging yourself in a few metres of salt water doesn't pose a COVID-19 transmissions risk, but the government has still banned scuba-diving," Mr Quilty said.

"Mental health issues threaten to swamp the coronavirus death toll.

"We feel guilty for otherwise healthy human connection and worry that anytime we open our doors, we will be stopped by the police."

Maxwell said she was concerned the bill would result in dangerous offenders reoffending while on bail by allowing changes to their bail conditions.

The government has said the bill does not make it easier to be released on bail, but police have been told to not recommend reporting to police stations as part of bail conditions so they can limit the number of people physically going into police stations.

St James man Arthur Rule, 48, was granted bail in Wangaratta Magistrates Court this week after magistrate Peter Dunn said Supreme Court decisions had set a precedent about concerns about effects of the coronavirus pandemic on those in custody.

Rule allegedly beat his 64-year-old female neighbour after breaking into her home with a weapon, but has denied the charges.

Despite the police recommendation, he will have to report to Shepparton police station three times per week.

Ms Maxwell called for magistrates to have further oversight and consideration before alleged offenders were granted bail during the pandemic.

She said the relaxing of reporting conditions were not manageable and offenders could not be trusted to log in and report.

"COVID-19 is no reason to relax bail conditions, in fact the opposite is the case and risks police resources being stretched further as a result of dangerous offenders on our streets when they should be on remand," she said.

"Communities need to feel safe and alleged offenders of serious violent crimes should be held on remand.

"It is time to put victims' rights and community safety first."

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a promotion for Benalla native Jaclyn Symes, who held the role of Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

With fewer MPs in the chamber for the emergency sitting, Ms Symes also took on responsibilities for extra portfolios in Parliament.

"The restrictions aren't easy, but they're saving lives," she said.

"I've personally been blown away by the countless acts of generosity and kindness that I've seen over the past month or so.

"As everyone knows, the economic impact of this pandemic has been equally devastating as the health impacts.

"It's an unprecedented time and whole industries have been put on ice for the foreseeable future.

"Unfortunately we know that many people who lose their jobs during economic downturns never return to those jobs and simply drop out of the workforce altogether.

"It won't be easy, but we as a government are committed to recovering every single one of those jobs and we're in this for the long haul."

The COVID Omnibus Bill, expected to pass in Parliament on Thursday, will introduce temporary rules in place during the coronavirus pandemic, including the ability for local councils to conduct meetings via video conferencing rather than having to meet in person.

Ms Symes also said duck hunting was not allowed, even on private property, until the June start date, but people should not be out of their homes for that purpose anyway.

"While hunting on your own property remains permissible, the Victorian chief health officer has advised that to help stop the spread of disease, people must not leave home for recreational activities such as hunting or fishing," she said.

"Professor (Brett) Sutton has stated that Victorians must change their behaviour to change the course of the epidemic."