Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): We are facing a global pandemic. I just thought I’d remind those opposite of that, because to be honest it seems like it might have slipped their minds.

Global pandemic—it rolls off the tongue far too easily. But the lived reality of it is far from easy.

Across the world we’ve seen this virulent, dangerous virus tear through communities, leaving hundreds of thousands dead in its wake.

Millions more have suffered serious, prolonged infections that have taken them to the brink. We don’t know what the long-term effects of that will be.

Whole cities have been left traumatised—places like the north of Italy where a generation of healthcare workers have been stricken by having to make impossible choices about who lives and who dies, only to then see their own colleagues succumb to the virus.

Scenes like those witnessed in the US, where refrigerated trucks are needed to house the bodies of coronavirus victims because the morgues are full.

These words are not intended to create alarm, Speaker, they’re intended to try to imprint some sense into those opposite who seem to believe that they know better than the world’s most knowledgeable scientists, doctors and epidemiologists.

So, I rise in support of the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (State of Emergency Extension and Other Matters) Bill—and in support of the Victorian Chief Health Officer having the tools he needs to steer Victoria out of this crisis.

When it comes to my own community, they deserve credit; credit for their determination, for their creativity and resilience, and credit because at the heart of my community’s response is the health and safety of others.

This year has been extremely tough—and that’s an understatement. Everyone has experienced the impacts differently.

For some, it’s juggling the kids remote schooling with working from home.

For others, it’s putting projects on hold or managing a business under pressure.

For our front-line health workers and all the people making sure we are safe, fed and connected, it’s the ongoing day to day anxiety of the virus getting out of control.

Sadly, for some, it’s losing income or employment altogether—a devastating consequence of this virus.

For others, not being able to see family and friends has had a real impact that cannot be quantified, but which we all feel deeply.

And then there are those who have lost loved ones to this lethal virus. Families grieving in isolation from one another to prevent further loss. My heart goes out to them.

Through all of this sacrifice and all of this pain, I’ve seen the extraordinary strength and resilience and determination of Victorians.

Truly, staying apart has brought us together.

We refuse to let this virus defeat us.

We refuse to let it divide us.

I see that in the smiling eyes, even if I can’t see their smiling mouths, of the people I pass on my walks along the Merri Creek or Darebin Creek, as people greet each other and step aside to make sure they are distancing and give a knowing nod in solidarity.

I hear it in the words of the hundreds of people that I’ve spoken to in phone calls and Zoom meetings and letters who tell me that it’s tough, but they know we need to do everything we can to keep each other safe and get to the other side.

And we’ve seen it in the bravery of our nurses, doctors, paramedics, pathologists, clinicians, educators, police, community services, transport workers, cooks, cleaners, volunteers, and every other worker who has put their own safety on the line every day for the rest of us.

I know that people are tired and want to be done with the virus. We all want to be able to spend time with our friends and family, to enjoy the things we love and get things moving again.

But the blunt truth is that coronavirus doesn’t care about what we want or how tired we are or how much we’ve all sacrificed.

It doesn’t care who’s scoring political points or who’s pointing fingers.

The way out of this is to persevere. It’s an endurance race.

And in times of crisis it becomes clear very quickly who is up to the task and who would buckle under the pressure.

Leadership requires resolve. It requires being able to see beyond the immediate pressures, the political chatter, the voices of doubt.

It takes strength to withstand that and to persevere because you know that the alternative is simply to give up.

That’s the alternative that the opposition have in mind.

It’s not a strategy at all. It’s giving up and letting chaos ensue.

That’s not leadership.

I shudder to think where Victoria would be right now if we were left in the hands of those opposite.

Very likely somewhere close to where the US is under the leadership of Trump.

Tens of thousands infected every day. Almost 185 000 dead. One in 10 people now out of work. Disadvantage further entrenched. People living in fear of one another and the spread of the virus.

And when I hear the sniping of the opposition, I have to ask: why? What’s in it for them?

Then I think about what is really going on across the pond, and there’s the answer.

The party of Trump. A playbook where in devastation and misery there is political opportunity. Where fear and division equate to electoral advantage.

The Leader of the Opposition well knows that across the globe the worst consequences of the virus—including the worst economic consequences—have been avoided when the health of the public is prioritised.

In other words, the most effective economic policy has also been to ensure first and foremost that the community is safe.

And as many have now explained, having a state of emergency in place does not mean restrictions won’t be eased. Indeed, the opposite is true—the measures enabled by a state of emergency, such as COVID-Safe plans for businesses, are critical to reopening the economy.

But unlike other states and territories across Australia which have no limits on the duration that they can be under a state of emergency, Victoria does. We have the most stringent form of this type of legislation across the country—and that’s not changing.

And as those opposite also well know, the legislation, even when amended, will continue to be the most conservative version of its kind in Australia.

Indeed this bill increases the reporting and accountability requirements to the Victorian Parliament. It increases checks and balances, while allowing decisions to be made on expert medical advice to keep us safe.

The state of emergency is a legal instrument that lets the chief health officer issue directions to manage the pandemic.

For example, directing people to isolate if they have the virus, directing people to wear a mask, or directing workplaces to enact COVID-safe plans to protect their staff and customers.

The notion that we don’t require any rules after September is unrealistic and dangerous. We cannot be in a situation where the chief health officer does not have the tools he needs to get us through this.

And it baffles me that those opposite can cry ‘Dictatorship!’ when their own Liberal colleagues interstate are exercising powers under even more far reaching legislation!

But this isn’t really about public health or economics to those opposite, is it?

This is nothing more than a cynical, opportunistic attempt at relevance; disgracefully drumming up fear and confusion in Victorians who, understandably, are feeling the fatigue of the enormous challenge that confronts us.

In their minds it’s simple. There is a choice—we stick together, we beat this virus, we avoid the worst human consequences of it and our economy recovers. Or we humour conspiracy theorists, fan the flames of populist rubbish, prolong the virus and from that we can ride the wave of division to electoral victory.

They know exactly what they’re doing.

It’s no different to John Howard and his cosy arrangement with Pauline Hanson. And it’s no different to the Prime Minister’s failure to admonish Craig Kelly for the attention-seeking nonsense that comes out of his mouth.

The problem with this approach is that at some point you need a plan for governing. At some point you need to be held responsible for the choices you make.

And Victorians are not so easily deceived.

We see how disingenuous and dangerous this position is.

This legislation allows for the extension of the state of emergency for an additional six months—in four-week intervals that must be based on the most up to date health advice from the chief health officer.

If the opposition is serious about helping Victorians, I suggest that they spend less time trying to derail the work that every Victorian has put into bring case numbers down.

On Sunday our Premier will announce a roadmap to reopening Victoria to provide certainty and clarity to communities and businesses.

This roadmap is not possible without having sensible, safe measures in place through the state of emergency and the ability to continue to respond to emerging outbreaks.

When restrictions are lifted, when we can move towards a new normal, it will be due to the hard work and sacrifice of every single Victorian who has acted to control the spread of the virus.

And it will be in spite of the actions of those opposite, who have so vehemently tried to ensure we never get there.

I commend the bill to the house.