The Workplace Relations Minister says the pandemic makes it necessary to rush the legislation enabling the Covid-19 traffic light system under urgency.
The Government is hoping to have it through today, although it has been criticised by opposition parties and legal academics.
Michael Wood told Morning Report the government sought input before introducing the legislation and he denies it is usurping the democratic process.
"We continue to deal with the Covid-19 global pandemic, we do sometimes have to move legislation at more pace than you would in normal times in order to provide the certainty, in order to ensure that we have safety, and to enable these sorts of changes. That's the balance that we have to strike.
"But I'm really comfortable that there's a high level of debate and scrutiny over this legislation. There's certainly no lack of debate about it in the public arena, and we take those comments on board as we develop these things."
He also says the Government has advice the legislation is consistent with the Bill of Rights.
