All Western countries have politicians...and unelected government bureaucrats...who always seem to lean toward a "the people will obey" attitude. And some don't just lean...they're very open about it.In the US there are a number of mayors and Governors of that sort,including the Trump hating Governor of Massachusetts and the Trump hating Mayor of Boston.
This whole matter has a foul aroma about it...an aroma that at least one or two Australian politicians and/bureaucrats clearly don't find unpleasant at all.
You are correct, you have your deep state and we have ours. But while your Federal deep state is really bad, our states might be even worse with their power grab.