A new pandemic bill introduced to Victorian parliament by the Andrews government was criticised by some legal and civil liberties groups for its broad powers and a lack of checks and balances. But while independent MPs worked with the government and legal advocates to improve the bill, some protesters – including members of far-right groups – co-opted the debate to inflame anti-government sentiment, at times egged on by politicians and commentators. In this episode, Gabrielle Jackson talks to Lenore Taylor and Mike Ticher about the need to separate legitimate criticism from the extreme views of a minority – and what extreme anti-government rhetoric means for democracy