What is the state of emergency and why is there controversy over extending it?

Civil rights organisation Liberty Victoria says the government is effectively writing itself a blank cheque with a 12-month extension, which is inconsistent with the preservation of human rights. They backed the call for four-weekly reviews to ensure limits on human rights and freedoms would continue only where necessary, called for Parliament to resume sitting as soon as possible and urged for a standing committee to be formed so the public voice could be heard.