WHY SEX WORK IN VICTORIA SHOULD BE DECRIMINALISED
The Victorian Government is currently undertaking a review to consider whether decriminalisation of sex work in Victoria is necessary. Fiona Patten MP is leading the review, and submissions from those within the industry are currently being sought to help shape the outcome of the inquiry.
There are however more complex issues at hand, relating to outdated models of criminalisation of STD and HIV infections, which have often led to creating more harm than good within the industry…
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The Victorian Government is currently undertaking a review to consider whether decriminalisation of sex work in Victoria is necessary. Fiona Patten MP is leading the review, and submissions from those within the industry are currently being sought to help shape the outcome of the inquiry…
“Where this came out of was that the government went to the election saying that they would consider the decriminalisation of sex work if they were elected,” Fiona Patten explains.
“In holding to the commitment, they have asked me to chair this inquiry, into what decriminalisation of sex work in Victoria would look like.”
Read full article on Star Observer.
Convictions will be wiped from records of Victorians under a new scheme
Alex White, Herald Sun
Victorians who have been prosecuted for a minor crime in the past will be able to have their record clear under a new scheme set to be introduced, but there are a few conditions.
Under the new plan people who have committed a minor offence and demonstrated an ability to rehabilitate, will have their record removed.
However they will still appear when police checks, working with children checks and employment checks for sensitive government roles are carried out…
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The inquiry into the issue was brought about by Reason Party MP Fiona Patten who is the chair of the Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee.
She welcomed the announcement but said it did not go far enough.
“I am pleased that the government has supported all of the recommendations of the committee in principle, but there is some troubling devil in the detail,” she said.
“The response ignores key recommendations of the committee, particularly around Aboriginal Victorians.
“There must be an application process for individuals who did not meet automatic eligibility requirements.
“Right now Aboriginal people are disadvantaged by criminal record schemes generally, but also in relation to kinship care applications, where irrelevant convictions can mean that Aboriginal children aren’t able to be placed with grandparents or family”.
Read full article on the Herald Sun.
Minor convictions to be ‘hidden’ from record under new scheme
The State Government has announced a Spent Convictions Scheme.
It means Victorians who have been prosecuted for a minor crime in the past will be able to have that removed from their public record after a period of time – the conviction will still be on file – to help their chances of gain employment and rehabilitating.
Fiona Patten introduced a bill supporting this back in 2018.
She spoke with Tom Elliott on Thursday.
Click PLAY below to hear more on 3AW Drive
VIC commits to spent convictions scheme
Victoria has joined the rest of the country in committing to a spent convictions scheme to prevent old criminal records impeding employment and rehabilitation.
The Andrews government’s decision, announced on Thursday, brings Victoria into line with other states in adopting legislation that ensures historical criminal records are not an impediment for individuals’ rehabilitation, or to secure housing and work.
Last year, the Victorian Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues committee chaired by Reason MP Fiona Patten advocated the government adopt a legislated spent convictions scheme…
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Ms Patten said in a statement posted on her Facebook page: “The Victorian spent convictions scheme must build in sufficient discretion to ensure that Aboriginal Victorians are not discriminated against.
“Aboriginal people are increasingly disadvantaged by criminal records. Irrelevant convictions should not be considered in applications to become kinship carers.’’
Read full article on Philanthropy.org.au.
Victorian foster children should receive support until the age of 21 government agrees
Alex White, Herald Sun
Hundreds of foster children in Victoria could potentionally remain in care until they turn 21, with the state government pledging support for a crossbencers push to increase age of care from 18.
Foster care could be extended from 18 to 21 years in Victoria with the state government pledging support in principle for the idea.
Reason MP Fiona Patten has put a private members Bill to the upper house to extend the age of care, which will directly benefit hundreds of children who are financially cut off on their 18th birthday…
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Ms Patten welcomed the support for the change.
Read full article on the Daily Telegraph.
Extending Home Care to 21
The parliament recently debated my bill on out of home care. Here is a quick guide to what my bill is about.
‘Home Care’ refers to the statutory care of children and young people who are unable to live with their parents.
There are currently 11,000 young Victorian’s living in out of home care. Currently, all of these children must leave care by their 18th birthday. That is around 800 young people in Victoria each year. For most, this means that they cannot stay with their foster parents and instead, have to fend for themselves.
While 85 percent of 18 to 21 year old’s are still living at home with one or both parents, our foster kids, who are vulnerable and may already have experienced significant trauma in their young lives, have to go it alone.
However, for kids in home care, their home funding ends on their 18th birthday – imagine studying for your final exams and being kicked out of home?
It is no surprise that within the first twelve months of leaving care, 50 percent of our care leavers will be homeless, in jail, or unemployed.
Stopping care at 18 gives kids in care a really tough start to adulthood, when they should be worrying about to what to study, many are worrying about where to sleep.
In the USA, this change halved homelessness, doubled education participation, doubled the odds of employment, saw a 54% reduction in arrests, a 38% reduction in youth pregnancies and saved around $320 million dollars in the process.
In Leeds England, the year after they extended their leaving care age, only one young care leaver ended up in custody, as compared to 102 in the year before.
Deloitte Access Economics have estimated that continuing care in Australia to 18, 19 and 20 year olds would also halve homelessness, reduce hospitalisation by one third, reduce mental illness by over 40 percent, increase engagement in education, significantly decrease arrests and massively decrease alcohol and drug dependence for this cohort.
This simple legislative change will not only change lives, it will also save $1.84 for every $1 spent.
My Bill will mean that all kids in foster and kinship care, can elect to stay at home until they are 21 if they want to.
Government considers raising age of support for foster children – 10 News First – video
Joy 94.9 – Tom and Wayne – Homelessness Inquiry & Mardi Gras
Reason Victoria leader Fiona Patten is chairing an inquiry into homelessness in Victoria, and Tom and Wayne find out what’s going to stick this time.
Plus the Reason Party are headed up to the Sydney Mardi Gras parade, so has Fiona learnt her choreography yet, and could we ever see her on Dancing with the Stars, or maybe another reality show?
Hopeful Signs at Homelessness Inquiry
Chair of the Homelessness Inquiry and Northern Metropolitan MP, Fiona Patten, reflects on a day of public hearings.
Yesterday, I chaired the Legal and Social Issues Committee’s second Melbourne public hearings into Homelessness
Much to my surprise, it was a day of relative optimism.
We heard from a range of witnesses doing innovative and effective work. The message I gleaned from nearly all those I heard from was – this is not just a government issue but one for the whole community.
Wonderful businesses like HoMie (Homelessness Of Melbourne Incorporated Enterprise) are taking up the challenge of addressing the stigma that comes with homelessness. They provide shopping days for young people experiencing homelessness and run a successful paid internship program for youth suffering hardship so as they can gain valuable on-the-job retail training. You can show your support by popping into their store on Brunswick street in Fitzroy. Read more about their brilliant work here. www.homie.com.au
Of course, a lot of the individuals and organisations appearing before us recognise that employment is one of the greatest protections against homelessness.
While developers often get a bad rap (because some of them deserve it!), we had a bunch of them along with accountants, builders and bankers in for a lively roundtable conversation about what they can do to help. I had assumed that they would want tax relief or other concessions but no, it was more their desire for fast track approvals for projects that created sustainable social housing or affordable housing. Many of the top builders, developers and architects have already come together to work on projects that refurbish empty buildings for short to medium term accommodation and are keen to do more. This is what we must encourage.
The amazing Kids Under Cover (www.kuc.org.au) provide studio, one and two bedroom apartments for young people aged between 12 and 25 years deemed, due to various circumstances (overcrowding, family conflict, mental health etc) to be at risk of homelessness or family breakdown. Many set up in the rear yard of the family home, it enables young people to have a sanctuary and remain connected to their family. We heard from Brittnie a young woman who had one of these wonderful spaces to live in for a number of years behind her grandmother’s home. She was able to finish school, go onto further study and is now a registered nurse looking after people with dementia. Inspiring stuff.
There are so many good ideas out there!
For instance askizzy.com.au is a website for people who may be homeless or just in a difficult space. It provides information about where you can find a bed, free food as well as services for family violence, mental health etc.
Finally, we heard from ‘Homes for Homes’, operated under the Big Issue umbrella. In a nutshell it arranges for home sellers to donate 0.1% of the sale of their house. But this is being scaled up and developers have got on board and are donating 0.1% on all their sales. You can find out more about them here – www.homesforhomes.org.au.
With the stats around homelessness frightening and the job of fixing the problem sometimes feeling like a mountain too high to climb, its days like this, when somehow it seems possible.
3AW: Mornings with Neil Mitchell 4/2/20 – audio
The view from left field with Fiona Patten, leader of the Reason Party.