In a special ceremony held online Wednesday night (July 29), Member for Northern Metropolitan and Leader of the Reason Party, Fiona Patten, has been named 2020 Humanist of the Year.

The prestigious honour, first given to Senator and High Court Justice Lionel Murphy in 1983, is awarded by the Australian Council of Humanists Societies in recognition of someone who ‘does great things for the public good’.

Previous winners include academic Professor Gillian Triggs, former WA Premier Carmen Lawrence, actor and director John Bell, biologist Tim Flannery, philosopher Peter Singer and singer-songwriter Eric Bogle.

“Among the awards given out each year in Australia, this one truly resonates with the unprecedented times we find ourselves in,” said Ms Patten accepting the award. “We need humanism now more than ever. That unique fusion of science and good will, of ethics and tolerance is the only way out of the mess we presently find ourselves in.  

“No amount of ego-driven politics or the drinking of disinfectant will bring us back from the edge of this pandemic. We need action based on fact, compassion and scientific excellence,”

President of the Council of Australian Humanist Societies, Mary-Anne Cosgrove, said Ms Patten received the award because she had “driven a number of important reforms by appealing to reasoned evidence and using pragmatic consultation to overcome long-standing prejudice.’

“Her outstanding achievements in leading debate and securing legislation on many issues of concern to Humanists, particularly end of life, abortion safety, sexual health and drugs of addiction, are well known, “said Ms Cosgrove.

“Fiona epitomises Humanist ideals and has worked tirelessly to make these important legislative changes. We hope that Fiona’s example inspires and encourages politicians at all levels of government.”

Ms Patten vowed to continue her push in the Victorian Parliament to uphold secular values announcing she would be presenting legislation later this year to enact changes to the Chaplaincy program in Victorian public schools.

“Currently laws state that you don’t need to be religious to be a chaplain, but the reality is that the only way to be a chaplain in Victoria is if you have been ordained or have some other religious qualification or endorsement,” Ms Patten said.

“There are multiple jobs in Victorian public schools currently being advertised as open only to Christians. No Muslims, Jewish faith or atheists allowed. It’s time that changed.”

-END-

“Today in Victoria there were 484 new cases of Covid19,” said Ms Patten. 

“That’s way too high.”

“Please. Stay the F**k at Home.”

Despite numerous promises to act, the Victorian Government is dragging its heels when it comes to fixing laws around driving and medicinal cannabis, says Member for Northern Metropolitan and Leader of the Reason Party Fiona Patten MP.

“Medicinal cannabis is the only prescription medication that excludes you from driving,” said Ms Patten.

“And Australia is the only jurisdiction where this anomaly hasn’t been fixed. It’s time that changed.”

“Patients who ignore the standard medical advice to wait five days before driving – are not just risking a substantial fine or a possible suspension of their licence. If someone with a legal prescription for medicinal cannabis is unfortunately involved in an accident, their insurance may be voided.

“I am not suggesting that we should allow people who are impaired to drive. I am saying that people who have been prescribed a legal medicine should be allowed to drive.”

Ms Patten says that current laws are discriminatory against patients and shows a lack of understanding of the facts surrounding cannabis-based medicines. It also seems at odds with the overall push by the Andrews Labor Government to have Victoria seen as the Australian leader in the medicinal cannabis sector.

“The government have glossy brochures sprouting their progressive, innovative support for the medicinal cannabis sector in Victoria and I applaud them for going after the many jobs and other benefits that this growing area of the economy can bring, but you can’t have it both ways.

“You can’t encourage the manufacture of a medicine that brings relief to many patients then criminalise the very taking of that same medicine – it makes no sense whatsoever.”

Ms Patten remarked that attention should be paid to the issue of impairment and not the simplistic test of whether a driver has a positive THC saliva test.

The Reason Party has proposed changes to the Road Safety Act to fix this unique problem and while Roads Minister, and indeed the Premier, have indicated they are looking closely at the issue – so far, no action.

“I have put forward simple amendments in Parliament that would have fixed this problem, but the government rejected them,” Ms Patten said.

“At the time the Victorian Government went on to make the right noises about bringing forward legislative and regulative change themselves however those noises have become a faint whisper.”

The Reason Party leader has indicated she will be putting further pressure on the Government to act when the Parliament resumes in August.

“As this Government knows full well, you can’t just ignore an issue and hope it goes away,” Ms Patten said.

“So, it’s time to stop ignoring this issue and take action that will support thousands of patients finding relief through cannabis-based prescription medications.”

– Ends –

THE views and suggestions of young Victorians will be heard at a public hearing for the parliamentary inquiry into homelessness tomorrow.

The Youth Affairs Council Victoria and Mission Australia will be among the organisations presenting…

…

“In its submission to the inquiry the Youth Affairs Council Victoria has told us that on any night at least 6000 young people are homeless in Victoria,” Committee Chair Fiona Patten said.

“This figure shows why this inquiry is so important because we need to find solutions to this problem. We can’t stand by and see so many young people living without a home, just leaving them as a lost generation.”

…

“There are many complex issues associated with homelessness and each of these issues needs to be considered in trying to find the solutions that meet the needs of young Victorians,” Ms Patten said,

“It’s vital as part of this inquiry that we hear from young Victorians and the organisations they are involved with so that they are not just faced with the problem but also help us to find some workable solutions.”

Read full print article in the Latrobe Valley Express.

Up to 80 women and children sleep in their cars in a Greater Geelong church carpark guarded by volunteers every night, an inquiry into homelessness has heard.

Olivia Shying, Geelong Advertiser

Up to 80 women and children sleep in their cars in a guarded church carpark each night because they have nowhere else to go, an inquiry into homelessness has heard.

A state parliamentary inquiry investigating homelessness in Victoria heard startling submissions from Barwon region agencies on Monday.

Geelong-based service Bethany Community Support representatives said more 3000 people were on the region’s public housing waiting lists, meaning it was effectively “impossible” to find secure funded accommodation.

…

The inquiry chaired, by MP Fiona Patten, continues.

Read the full article on the Geelong Advertiser.

CHAD VAN ESTROP

HOMELESSNESS in the Geelong and Barwon southwest region will be investigated through a state parliament committee on Monday. Community organisations and service providers will share their experiences with politicians from the Legislative Council legal and social issues committee.

Chair Fiona Patten said there was “unprecedented demand for services to assist people who are homeless or facing homelessness”.

“We will be hearing from organisations operating in the region about the needs they have and what can be done to help address homelessness in the southwest,” she said.

Ms Patten said representatives from The Geelong Project, working to reduce youth homelessness through early intervention, would be among those to speak at the hearing.

Read full article on the Geelong Advertiser’s website.

Alex White and Shannon Deery, Herald Sun
Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Victorians in lockdown are being urged to wear masks if they can’t physically distance when in public.

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) now recommend all Victorians in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire to wear a mask if unable to socially distance outside.

The Australian Medical Association has adopted a similar stance.

There has been significant debate about the benefits of mask use, but the advice has changed this week as Victoria’s coronavirus tally has spiralled out of control…

…

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten called on the government to change Victoria’s public health advice on masks.

“The evidence says that face masks work, so in line with the Reason Party’s evidence-based approach, I am joining health professionals urging their increased use in public”, Ms Patten said.

“Wearing a mask is a major harm reduction tool, it simply makes sense,” she said…

Read the full article on the Herald Sun’s website.

Member for Northern Metropolitan and Leader of the Reason Party, Fiona Patten MP, has today joined forces with GP Lorraine Baker, to call on the Health Minister to change Victoria’s public health advice on face masks, in an effort to stem community transmission of Coronavirus.

Government advice on face masks has not changed since March 2020, when masks were in short supply. Governments were cautious at the start of the pandemic when supplies were low, but that is no longer an issue. 

Dr Lorraine Baker met  Ms Patten during her presidency of AMA Victoria. Dr Baker has backed the ‘Mask for Aussies’ group, who with the support of Dr Kerryn Phelps, the former independent member for Wentworth, are lobbying the government to advocate that everyone wear a mask in public.

“I’m asking the Government to counsel people to wear protective re-usable masks for everyone’s protection and as a sign of solidarity with the sick and those doing it tough because of the virus”, said Dr Baker.

Fiona Patten backs the campaign.

“The evidence says that face masks work, so in line with the Reason Party’s evidence-based approach, I am joining health professionals urging their increased use in public”, said Ms Patten.

“Wearing a mask is a major harm reduction tool, it simply makes sense”, she said.  

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth, and a raft of doctors, nurses and community health workers have joined the call to widen the use of cloth masks to battle Covid-19.

The WHO have now encouraged governments to urge their citizens to wear face masks to “prevent COVID-19 transmission effectively in areas of community transmission.”

“We should be doing everything we can to reduce the risk of Covid19 to our family, our friends, our neighbours”, said Ms Patten.

“This threat is real, so if wearing a mask can help – then just do it. National Cabinet need to prioritise this issue”, she said.

– Ends –

– Stage 3 Restrictions Reimposed
– Parliament Must Not be Delayed
– Business Needs Further Support

From Midnight Wednesday 8th July, Stage 3 Stay at Home Restrictions will again be applied across metro Melbourne for the next six weeks.

This is on top of the looming border closure between Victoria and NSW, the suburbs already in lockdown and the even heavier restrictions that have been placed on the residents of the Flemington and North Melbourne housing towers in my electorate of Northern Metropolitan. 

This is disappointing to everyone.  It’s tiring. But we simply must get on top of this and this lockdown is the right choice.

The cases of Covid-19 have been rising across the city, in particular by way of community transmission. So, for the benefit of everyone, we have to put down the shutters again. 

I feel for the businesses across the city that have been through a rollercoaster ride with hopes for reopening over the past four months only for us to end up back here again. They will require immediate and ongoing support.

There are of course questions to be asked about how this happened or whether the government response has been adequate or appropriate in places such as the housing towers lockdown in North Melbourne and Flemington; whether hotels used in quarantine were managed correctly or if authorities were given the resources they need.  

The time for those questions to be asked and answered I hope will come soon. 

Beyond the Judicial Inquiry into Hotel Quarantine by Justice Jennifer Coate, I will be writing to Premier Dan Andrews and the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Minister Jaclyn Symes, urging them not to delay the resumption of Parliament.

The Parliament has important work to do ensuring that all Victorians are being heard during this crisis. We should muster every resource we can, make any and all legislative arrangements that need to be made so that all Victorians are supported during this pandemic. 

For now, we must Stay at home. Get tested. Socially distance. Wash your hands and sanitise regularly. Wear a mask when you feel you need to. 

At some point this will end.

All quotes are attributable to Fiona Patten MP, Leader of the Reason Party Member for Northern Metropolitan.

– Ends –