The Andrews Government looks set to secure an extension of its state of emergency powers, with a Greens MP who is currently on maternity leave planning a return to Parliament to vote for the legislation.
The development comes as the state reports five new deaths and 70 new coronavirus infections overnight — the lowest single-day increase in cases since early July.
Greens MP Samantha Ratnam initially said she would not come to Parliament while on leave, after having her first baby two months ago.
The Reason Party's Fiona Patten and Animal Justice Party's Andy Meddick have also flagged their support for the Government's compromised extension of up to six months.
Premier Daniel Andrews originally sought a 12-month extension to the state of emergency powers, which provide the legal framework to enforce health directions from the Chief Health Officer.
Extending the state of emergency does not mean existing restrictions will stay in place. But it allows the Chief Health Officer to issue enforceable public health directives as needed, such as requiring COVID-positive people to self-isolate.
Ms Ratnam's surprise intervention gives the Government 20 votes in the 40-member Upper House, and given controversial former Labor minister Adem Somyurek says he will not vote due to a IBAC investigation, the bill should pass.
The State Government had been in negotiations with the crossbench about getting the laws through the Parliament.
There has also been public and private lobbying from frontline workers, including the police union and Australian Medical Association, who are in favour of the extension.
But MPs have also been inundated with calls to block the extension. There has been a coordinated campaign from some online groups, including at least one that has featured state Liberal MPs.
That group has offered template emails to send to MPs.
Ms Patten and Mr Meddick have reported "vile" abuse being directed at them and their offices.
"We have been inundated with phone calls, we have been inundated with social media messages, we have been inundated with emails — thousands and thousands," Ms Patten said, adding some of it had been referred to police.
"Despite the vile, vicious and aggressive messages … I will be standing up for small business, standing up for police, the nurses, the doctors, the civil liberty organisations in supporting the modified bill that's before us today."
The MPs also said many Victorians appeared to be confused about the bill actually meant.
"A state of emergency does not mean an indefinite lockdown and I look forward to seeing the Government's roadmap to reopening on Sunday," Mr Meddick said on Twitter.
At today's coronavirus update, Mr Andrews stressed that extending the state of emergency powers was about providing certainty surrounding rules.
"If you want to have a long-term plan to find COVID-normal, if you want to have rules that will allow us to open up, then my judgement is that we provide as much certainty in that space as we can," he said.
The Premier said he would comment on the bill's result once it had occurred, but added he was "confident we can get a balanced outcome".
