New powers will allow Premier Dan Andrews to impose a state of emergency any time he likes - and Victorians face $90,500 fines or two years in jail if they protest. Under the legislation, opposition MPs fear the premier could use public health orders to target individuals on age, gender, sexual orientation, political belief, or activity. Under the new bill, the premier will be able to declare a pandemic even if there are no cases, and can extend the state of emergency for three months at a time. The sweeping new pandemic laws which were tabled in parliament on Tuesday free the premier from having to get doctors to sign off on public health orders. The premier would be able to declare a state of emergency and bring in new restrictions on public life whether or not his chief health officer agrees. New powers will allow Premier Dan Andrews (pictured) to impose a state of emergency any time he likes - and Victorians face $90,500 fines or two years in jail if they protest The dramatic escalation of the premier's powers have come under fire from the state's Opposition who branded Mr Andrews 'drunk on power'. (Pictured, a protester seized by police in Melbourne on Saturday) The premier would also make the final call on implementing lockdowns, mask mandates and quarantine requirements. Victorians could be fined up to $90,500 if they break the rules, with companies facing fines of up to $452,500. The dramatic escalation of the premier's powers have come under fire from the state opposition, which branded Mr Andrews 'drunk on power'. 'Victorians are today witnessing the most extreme, dangerous and excessive laws ever brought before our state,' Liberal leader Matthew Guy said. 'Daniel Andrews is attempting to sideline the Victorian chief health officer and grant himself unchecked power. 'Why would the government pass such extreme legislation if they didn't intend to lock us down again? 'This is the most extreme law of its kind anywhere in Australia. Under the rewritten fines law, individuals could be fined up to $90,500 if they break the rules, with companies facing fines of up to $452,500. (Pictured, Victoria Police on lockdown patrol) 'Placing so much power in the hands of one person, not the cabinet, not the parliament, but in the hands of the premier alone would be unprecedented. 'We see these laws as an incredible attack on democracy.' Mr Andrews dismissed the criticism as 'political games' and insisted the powers were simply those that the opposition had been calling for. The new process is similar to the ones used in NSW and New Zealand, where the health minister is directly accountable to parliament. Mr Andrews said Mr Guy repeatedly called for the public health orders to be made by elected officials rather than bureaucrats. Dan Andrews dismissed the criticism 'political games' and insisted the powers were simply those that the Opposition had been calling for. Health Minister Martin Foley (pictured) said the laws would allow him to issue health orders based on characteristics such as age, location, vaccination status and occupation As recently as October 5, Mr Guy said the orders should be 'ticked off by a minister or the premier'. 'This is exactly what the opposition leader asked for. Now apparently it's not the right thing,' Mr Andrews said on Tuesday. 'There's some political game being played here and I just won't get involved in that.' Health Minister Martin Foley said the laws would allow him to issue health orders based on characteristics such as age, location, vaccination status and occupation. But he said it was 'conspiratorial nonsense' for the opposition to suggest rules could be enforced based on gender, sexual orientation or political belief. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton (pictured) insists he is not being 'sidelined' by the new laws Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton also insisted he was not being 'sidelined' by the laws. 'There are expectations that the elected representatives in parliament, the minister in particular and the premier, should have accountability for the final form that public health directions take,' he said. Professor Sutton will continue to provide health advice to the minister, which under the new laws must be tabled in parliament then made public. An independent oversight committee will be established to review the public orders and their impact on human rights. The laws also introduce safeguards around protecting contact tracing and QR code information, while an aggravated offence will be created for people or businesses who 'intentionally or recklessly breach' the rules. The bill is expected to pass the lower house but in the upper house it will require the backing of three of the 11 crossbenchers. Animal Justice MP Andy Meddick and Greens leader Samantha Ratnam have indicated they will support the bill, while Reason Party MP Fiona Patten wants to see the 'devil in the detail' before giving it a final 'thumbs up'. If passed, pandemic-specific laws will replace the current state of emergency, which expires on December 15. Victoria recorded 1510 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths on Tuesday, bringing the toll from the state's latest outbreak to 234. There are 24,715 active cases in the state, including 817 in hospital, of which 147 are in intensive care and 88 on a ventilator. About 90.8 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 have had one COVID-19 vaccine dose while almost 76 per cent are fully vaccinated, paving the way for restrictions to ease further at 6pm on Friday. All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility