Hefty Fines, 2-Year Jail Terms Loom in New Australian Pandemic Bill

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media on Oct. 17, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. He announced that Victoria's Lockdown will end at 11.59 p.m. on Oct. 21, with ten visitors allowed at your home per day and groups of up to 15 people allowed to get together in a public gathering. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Residents in the Australian state of Victoria face prison time or massive fines of up to AU$90,000 (US$67,570) if they are deemed to have failed to comply with government-mandated health orders and pose a risk to the health of others, according to a measure rushed before the state’s Parliament on Oct. 26.

The Public Health and Wellbeing (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 (pdf) was introduced by the government’s Health Minister Martin Foley and aims to supersede the “State of Emergency” powers that are currently provided under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, which was due to expire at the end of the year.