https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-10/ ... /100608056
Victoria records 1,003 COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths
as MP sounds alarm over threats linked to pandemic bill
By state political reporter Richard Willingham and staff
Posted 7h ago
7 hours ago
, updated 3m ago
Victorian crossbench MP Andy Meddick has raised the alarm over politicians' physical safety after a surge in abuse and death threats during debate over the state government's divisive pandemic bill, which is due to be debated in the upper house next week.
Key points:
There are 471 COVID-19 patients in hospital, down from 657 a week ago
Meanwhile, 84.9 per cent of Victorians aged 12 years and over are now fully vaccinated
Mr Meddick said abuse and threats towards his staff and family had "ramped up extraordinarily"
Mr Meddick, who is part of the Animal Justice Party and represents Western Victoria in the Legislative Council, said he feared the "escalation of threats" could lead to a politician being assaulted.
It comes as Victoria has recorded 1,003 new COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths, with the number of hospitalisations linked to the outbreak continuing to fall.
The MP said anger over the pandemic bill, which has sparked criticism and protests, meant that abuse and threats directed towards him, his staff and family had "ramped up extraordinarily".
"I think it has a lot to do with the rise of far-right organisations, in part, but also I feel that a lot of people are being geed-up, if you like, by partisan politics, by people with another agenda," he told the ABC.
"I think that's unconscionable, actually, because we are going through a global pandemic."
Andy Meddick sits in an office space wearing a navy shirt and a rainbow lanyard.