Patrick Durkin BOSS Deputy editor
A powerful group of retired judges and leading QCs has written to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews expressing alarm over proposed laws giving designated officers power to arrest anyone suspected of breaching COVID-19 rules.
The COVID-19 Omnibus...
By Noel Towell, Henrietta Cook and Michael Fowler
The key crossbench MP who guaranteed the Andrews government’s state of emergency powers wants Melbourne’s curfew lifted, as retail groups lobby for night-time restrictions to be scrapped.
Reason Party upper house MP Fiona Patten...
Victoria’s opportunity to decriminalise sex work
Sep 9, 2020
By Dr Hilary Caldwell and Dr Zahra Stardust
UNSW academics argue that the review into sex work could result in positive changes to the working conditions for many sex workers.
As the Victorian Government conducts its review into the regulation of sex work, the push for decriminalisation...
A storm knocked out power to the Thornbury Turf Strokers’ pavilion at Yarra Bend Park in October, 2018. Almost two years later the club, despite its best efforts, is still waiting for electricity to be restored. Here’s why.
Paul Amy, Leader
The Thornbury Turf Strokers Cricket Club...
By STEPHANIE PALMER-DERRIEN
Daniel Andrews’ extension of metropolitan Melbourne’s stage four lockdown, and the reopening roadmap unveiled last weekend, mean many businesses won’t be able to trade as normal until the end of November.
And that’s in a best-case scenario.
Since...
Member for Northern Metropolitan and Leader of the Reason Party, Fiona Patten MP, has again called on the Victorian government to make funds immediately available to thousands of small businesses who are on the brink of closing their doors.
“In parliament last week, I called on the Small...
By Jewel Topsfield
As someone who has spent decades defending the sex industry, Fiona Patten is no stranger to what she calls the “rough and tumble”. “It’s not like I am a snowflake,” the libertarian and social reformer says.
But Patten, now a Victorian Legislative Council...
ABC Mornings with Virginia Trioli 2/9/20
Sep 2, 2020
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By Erin Pearson and Noel Towell
The Victorian government has won a six-month extension of its powers to declare the coronavirus pandemic an ongoing state of emergency, following a marathon debate overnight.
Shortly after 9pm, when the first vote on the Public Health and Wellbeing...
Reason Party leader Fiona Patten says she understands why people are “fired up” over the state government’s bid to re-write the State of Emergency legislation, but says it’s the only way forward for Victoria during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Patten will vote in favour of the...