WANGARATTA–based state MP Tania Maxwell (MLC, Northern Victoria) has refused to budge on a Pandemic Legislation Bill put to Parliament yesterday.

A vote to delay debate on the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill was upheld 20 to 17 in the Upper House on Thursday morning.

Ms Maxwell did not specify if she had voted to delay the debate, but said her position on the bill had remained steadfast.

"Derryn Hinch's Justice Party will continue to oppose the government's pandemic bill," she said.

"It's a flawed bill, and the government has compromised public trust by the way it's developed it, skipped established procedures and rejected consultation.

"That disrespects our community and parliament."

Thursday's vote came after former government MP Adem Somyurek revealed he would return to the chamber for the first time in almost a year to vote against the bill.

The Victorian government had been confident the bill would pass after making amendments to secure the support of three crossbenchers – the Greens' Samantha Ratnam, Reason Party MP Fiona Patten and Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddi...