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Victorians can be jailed for two years and fined $45,250 for breaching public health orders under premier Daniel Andrew's controversial pandemic bill.
The Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill passed the upper house by a thin margin of 20 votes to 18 on Thursday.
It comes after weeks of bitter debate and public outrage that prompted several mass protests in Melbourne.
The bill grants sweeping new powers to the premier and introduces heavy penalties and jail time for Victorians and businesses.
Victorians can be jailed for two years and fined $45,250 for breaching public health orders after premier Daniel Andrew's controversial pandemic bill was passed
The bill was passed after weeks of bitter debate and public outrage that prompted several mass protests in Melbourne
Victorian ombudsman Deborah Glass said on Friday the changes included more transparency and accountability
While it may be a victory for Mr Andrews, the premier was forced to make several amendments to the bill in order to gain the support from politicians.
Victorian ombudsman Deborah Glass said on Friday the changes included more transparency and accountability.
'What we've seen in this legislation now are some really significant amendments that will deliver, I think, that necessary independence to the whole process,' she told the Today Show.
'There is much more accountability now in some very important respects.
'I think the community can have a lot more
