"Vicious threats" were made to Wangaratta-based MP Tania Maxwell over recent weeks as she weighed up whether to support a Victorian government bill that allowed emergency powers to be extended for another six months.
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The MP from Derryn Hinch's Justice Party told Parliament on Tuesday she would not support the bill, saying it was made up of "ad hoc fixes" for the coronavirus pandemic.
She revealed that "particularly vicious threats and some absolutely vile personal abuse" had been made towards her.
"I would encourage any of that small group who might be listening today to please reflect on your behaviour, and how it does your cause absolutely no favour or credit whatsoever," she said.
The extension of government and police powers to cope with the coronavirus pandemic was expected to be debated late into Tuesday night.
"While we believe that the bill obviously does have some good clauses in it, which we believe have areas of concern that do need addressing, ultimately we would prefer to see in their own individuals bills," Ms Maxwell said.
She supported parts of the bill, including child reunification changes that gave parents involved with Child Protection the opportunity to prove they could resume caring for their children.
But she said supporting it as a whole would be a "dereliction of our duty", as Victoria's restrictions had exacerbated many people's mental health issues.
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"These problems will also undoubtedly escalate exponentially for every day, week and month that Victoria's cruel COVID restrictions continue, and that's not even remotely acceptable as far as I'm concerned, Ms Maxwell said.
"After seven months, the government and its officials should actually be trying to relinquish many of the COVID controls, not seeking to wield even more of them."
Northern Victoria MP Jaclyn Symes introduced the omnibus bill to the upper house, saying the six-month extension would allow local councils to continue meeting online rather than in person, have Children's Court matters heard quickly, and give police the power to enforce the health directions.
"Six months strikes the balance of providing enough time to address the COVID-19 pandemic whilst not extending the measures, and any limitation of human rights, beyond the point that is reasonably justifiable," she said in a statement to the Parliament.
"We are not yet at the end of this pandemic and there is still more work to be done to protect our state.
"But with these measures in place, and the efforts of every single Victorian, we can get through this - and get through it together."
Wodonga-based MP Tim Quilty also indicated he would vote against the bill.
He told Parliament on Tuesday night the reasonable measures in the bill were a "Trojan horse" to sneak through more extensions of powers.
"I'm not prepared to extend the trust to the government any further. To be fair, I didn't trust the government - or indeed any government - much before this, but I trust them not at all now," he said.
He criticised the government for holding northern Victoria back until the whole state could be let out of lockdown together.