Thousands of protesters gathered in Melbourne's CBD on Saturday calling on Premier Daniel Andrews to resign as they rallied against the Victorian government's new pandemic legislation.  

Chants erupting from the crowd included: "End the mandates," "Stop medical apartheid," and "We need Bill of Rights!"

"Kill the bill," protesters chanted.

The declaration will give the health minister "broad powers to make pandemic orders" on the chief health officer's advice and will replace the current state of emergency, which expires on December 15.

A similar process is in place in NSW and New Zealand, where the health minister is directly accountable to parliament.

As 7News reports, the laws also introduce safeguards around protecting contact tracing and QR code information, while an aggravated offence will be created to "deter ... the most egregious pandemic-related behaviors".

Mr Andrews has also warned unvaccinated Victorians will be subject to COVID-19 restrictions "well into 2022".

People found guilty of "intentionally and recklessly" breaching public health orders would also face two years in jail or a $90,500 fine and businesses could be fined up to $452,500.

While Melbourne was placed under lockdown on six separate occasions beginning in March 2020, spending nearly nine months under stay-at-home orders cumulatively, the city's restrictions were again eased on Friday, with travel bans and outdoor mask mandates lifted, among other things. Victoria as a whole, however, remains under some Covid-19 measures, including 75% capacity rules at indoor entertainment venues and limits on outdoor gatherings to just 30 people.