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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Adeshola Ore

Rights watchdog sees 1,445% spike in questions about Victorian government’s powers during Covid

Police officers are seen wearing protective face masks at a cricket match at the MCG
Queries to Victoria’s human rights commission about the right to protest and the powers of police jumped by 181% in 2020-21. Photograph: Loren Elliott/Reuters

Victoria’s human rights watchdog was flooded with inquiries about the state government’s powers during Covid, with the agency reporting a surge in queries and complaints.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission is currently working through a backlog of complaints, with a 17% increase recorded this financial year – on top of a 1,445% spike in queries about the powers of the state government in 2020-21, compared to the previous year.

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