The Parliament of Victoria in Australia has finally passed contentious pandemic management legislation in a 20-18 vote, following a marathon 21-hour debate in the upper house. The laws have been the subject of protests and amended several times after concerns over the extent of the powers it grants the state’s premier and health minister—many legal groups have now changed their tune, however, and thrown their support behind the law. The Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill passed the Legislative Council of the Victorian Parliament on Dec. 2 and will now be delivered to the state governor for royal assent. Victoria will become the first state to have a specific legal framework for dealing with pandemics. Most Australian jurisdictions have relied on temporary State of Emergency powers under their respective public health acts. While the law promises more transparency over health advice from medical experts, as well as protections …