Learning from Covid-19

The COVID-19 emergency has presented all of us with challenges, but it also provides some learning experiences for students that can be incorporated into the teaching of Civics and Citizenship and Legal Studies.

The COVID-19 emergency presented many challenges, but it also provides some learning experiences. In the video presented on this page, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Colin Brooks MP (2017-2022), talks about the role of parliament to create and scrutinise legislation, and how this process was adapted to the needs of the COVID-19 pandemic. The video includes chapter markers, corresponding to the following topics:

  • Parliament during the pandemic
  • The role of Parliament in a crisis
  • The legislative process
  • Crisis legislation
  • Scrutiny in a crisis
  • Maintaining parliamentary process
  • Working in parliament
  • Lessons from the crisis

  • How were the main functions of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council maintained during the pandemic?

    What changes did parliament make in response to the pandemic crisis?

    • What do these changes say about parliament’s ability to respond to the need for law reform during a crisis?
    • What are the strengths and limitations to these changes?

    Why was it necessary to introduce new laws in response to the COVID-19 pandemic?

    • Why was it important to pass some legislation in a shorter (abridged) timeframe?

    What process are in place to scrutinise a bill?

    •  How were these processes of scrutiny changed during the pandemic crisis?
    • What is the benefit of using the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee as part of the scrutiny of the executive in the pandemic?

    How would you strengthen parliament’s ability to respond to and adapt in a crisis?

    • In your response, consider the main functions of parliament, and the role of community/stakeholder consultation, representation of diverse voices, and scrutiny of a bill.

    What role do parliament and laws play in achieving social cohesion during a crisis, and how is this need for social cohesion balanced with protecting the rights of individuals?

  • Shrunken Vic Parliament passes COVID laws
    Benita Kolovos, 7 News, 23 April 2020

    Victoria's new laws to deal with coronavirus pandemic, including bail changes, trials by judge only
    Richard Willingham and Danny Tran, ABC, 21 April 2020

    COVID-19 becomes law; government to give itself sweeping new powers
    Noel Towell, The Age, 20 April 2020

    Parliament expected to pass $24.5 billion relief package
    Shannon Deery, Alex White, Kieran Rooney, Tom Minear, Herald Sun, 23 April 2020

  • The responding to Covid-19 video can be used to explore the role of parliament in responding to a crisis and what effect that has on the law-making process. It can be used as a case study to address aspects of the Victorian Curriculum Civics and Citizenship, specifically when considering how a law is made.

    The video can be used as stimulus material in VCE Legal Studies Unit 1, Area Study 1 to discuss:

    • the roles of the Crown and the Houses of Victorian parliament in law-making
    • the division of constitutional law-making powers of the state and Commonwealth
    • characteristics of an effective law, such as it reflects society’s values; is enforceable; is known; is clear and understood; and is stable
    • the role of individuals, laws and the legal system in achieving social cohesion and protecting the rights of individuals
    • sources of law such as statute law

    The video can also be used to address aspects of VCE Legal Studies Unit 4, including:

    • reasons for law reform

    • restrictions on the law-making powers of parliament

    • the role of one parliamentary committee or one Royal Commission, and its ability to influence law reform

    • factors that affect the ability of parliament to make law, including:
      • the roles of the houses of parliament
      • the representative nature of parliament
      • political pressures

     

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