A ratepayer-funded economic development body has defended its decision to share invitations to an online forum hosted by a federal Nationals MP criticising Victoria's pandemic laws.
The invitations, written by Mallee MP Anne Webster, said Monday night's event, also attended by barrister Lana Collaris, was a chance "to understand how the Andrews pandemic bill will impact your business".
Dr Webster has publicly described the bill as "potential tyranny" and told Sky News and the ABC this week that she would join protests outside Parliament House if she lived in Melbourne.
The Victorian Bar, of which Ms Collaris is a member, has also criticised the laws.
Dr Webster said the representative from the Victorian Bar was "apolitical" and that the meeting provided an "open forum" for discussion.
"It was in many respects dry," Dr Webster said.
"Are there alternative perspectives? Possibly. I think that the number of people that have raised grave concerns about this bill should cause most Victorians to say, 'Hold up, what's actually going on here?'"
'Nonpartisan' meeting
Mildura Regional Development (MRD), a council-funded organisation that operates separately from the Mildura Rural City Council, said it shared invitations to 2,500-3,000 people on its business email list at the request of Dr Webster.
Chief executive Brett Millington said the organisation shared the material for the purpose of "helping people understand" the ramifications of the bill, and that he had "absolutely" considered any political connotations.
"We are nonpartisan," he said.
"But any sort of information that we can get out that enables [businesses] to make better decisions, or be informed, is paramount to us.
"I think [the meeting] gave people a forum in which to ask some questions.
"That, to me, was pretty important."
People who registered for the forum received follow-up emails on Tuesday from Dr Webster encouraging them to contact their local Legislative Council member.
The correspondence also listed the contact details of the 10 MPs representing northern and western Victoria, including key crossbencher Andy Meddick.
The Wimmera Development Association (WDA) – which is partly funded by five different Councils in the south of the Mallee electorate – was also asked by Dr Webster to share the invitations.
WDA executive director Chris Sounness said the organisation shared the link to "key shareholders", including shire chief executives and a small business group, but not with individual business owners.
'Limited' help to businesses
Mildura business owner Robert Di Toro attended the meeting after receiving the invitation from MRD.
Mr Di Toro said he hoped the meeting would provide some clarity on how the bill may specifically affect businesses, but said he found it "quite limited" in that regard.
"It didn't cover that small to medium business element, so I was a bit surprised that the Mildura Regional Development was involved," he said.
"I guess it was a convenient way for businesses to be contacted, but I thought it was unusual for a regional development agency to be involved in something that has … not passed the house — it's not legislation yet.
"It felt like it was speculation, to a point.
Several amendments were made to the bill the day after the meeting was held.
The Victorian Bar says the amendments do not go far enough.
'Very political period'
Councillor Jason Modica, who ran as an Independent candidate for the seat of Mallee at the last Federal election, said Midura Regional Development should not have shared the invitation due to the political nature of the discussion.
"If it was strictly about economic development in the region and it wasn't politicised, I think it would be OK," he said.
"That is a concern we can't overlook, because we are in a very political period leading into a federal election and a state election next year.
"[MRD] should be apolitical — next time I would hope they would be looking at it with a bit more of a strategic overview before leaning into it … or putting [the meeting] on themselves, exclusive of the politicised nature of the federal member."
Mildura Mayor Liam Wood, who did not attend the meeting, said he had no concerns about MRD sharing the invitation.
Ray Kingston, who ran as an Independent candidate for Mallee at the last federal election, said he sympathised with the MRD for sharing the invitation after it was requested.
"It does highlight the subtle issue in this part of the world, and other safe seats, whereby there's an undercurrent of … [risk] to upset the sitting member when you know there's a very good chance they will likely be there again after the next election," he said.
