‘Take the heat out’: What Neil Mitchell wants to see happen to pandemic laws now

With the Andrews government’s controversial pandemic bill now looking likely to fail, after Adem Somyurek’s return to Parliament to vote against it, the Opposition has offered to work with the government to “sensibly” put laws in place to manage the pandemic.

Neil Mitchell says it must happen.

“The Premier should sit down with Matthew Guy, the Opposition Leader, and negotiate the way through it,” the 3AW Mornings host said.

“The deal could be this: We need pandemic control laws. There’s not time to refine the awful bill and fix it, so is there a way to roll over the old state of emergency with Matthew Guy’s approval, with the Opposition approval?

“On that basis they’ve got time to get the new laws rewritten, fixed, back in Parliament for debate by … February or March.

“Have another go at a more sensible, properly crafted piece of legislation that doesn’t have the whole community up in arms.”

Press PLAY below for Neil Mitchell’s view

Opposition leader Matthew Guy says he would “absolutely” sit down with the state government to discuss an alternative arrangement.

“This is too important to just throw around and block, and debate, and argue,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“I would have thought the best way is to negotiate with all of the crossbench and the opposition. At least have a conversation with them.”

Mr Guy says negotiation, and returning with a new bill next year “would be the sensible thing to do”.

Press PLAY below to hear Matthew Guy’s take