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Debate on the Victorian government's controversial Covid bill finally ended in the state's upper house on Wednesday afternoon after 21 hours of argument, but a final vote on the legislation could still be days away.
The debate raged on through the night about aspects of the bill which would grant premier Daniel Andrews and his health minister extraordinary powers to lock down citizens whenever they declare a pandemic.
Debate on the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill began in the Legislative Council about 3pm Tuesday and ended about 12.15pm on Wednesday.
Daniel Andrews speaks in state parliament. His proposed new law granting widespread powers to declare a pandemic and lock down citizens was debated for 21 straight hours in the upper house.
The MPs worked their way through each of its 58 clauses and 83 amendments and it will now return to the lower house - where the government holds a commanding majority - to be debated once more.
It will then return to the upper house for a final vote, expected on Thursday.
But upper house MPs have been told to prepare to sit on Friday and Saturday if more debate is required.
'We'll just have to see how it unfolds,' Mr Andrews told reporters outside parliament on Wednesday.
'We need to get these arrangements settled so let's hope they can achieve that outcome.'
The bill has sparked waves of protest and an occupation of the steps outside state parliament, with opponents saying the law would deliver the government
