Scott McDougall says the public’s willingness to accept restrictions on their rights might be tested in future pandemic waves

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Queensland’s human rights commissioner has warned the state’s lawmakers a “vacuum of oversight” could undermine public faith crucial to responding to future pandemics should they extend the chief health officer emergency powers.

Commissioner Scott McDougall told a parliamentary committee on Monday it should reject the Palaszczuk government’s move to extend those powers by another six months and instead replace the temporary measures with “fit-for-purpose, pandemic legislation” that was “transparent, accountable and more compatible with human rights”.

This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.