'Overreach and overzealous': concerns over Victoria's proposed new police powers

The state government insists expanded police powers are needed to help battle Covid-19, but civil rights groups disagree.

The Covid-19 omnibus (emergency measures) and other acts amendment bill 2020, which went before parliament this week, proposes to broaden the type of people who can be appointed as authorised officers, as well as expanding their powers to detain people likely to refuse or fail to comply with quarantining directions.

Liberty Victoria president Julian Burnside said this was concerning.