Terumo syringes
Aug 16, 2016
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — My constituent matter is in regard to Terumo syringes of low quality that are being used in the Northern Metropolitan Region. The syringes are used in a range of needle and syringe programs in my area, and it appears the company has made changes to its manufacturing processes which have impacted on the quality of the needles. I have been told that problems include: needles breaking off in people's arms, being blunt to the point of inefficacy and even foreign matter being found in barrels.
An Age article published in July quotes the CEO of the Penington Institute, John Ryan,...
Sex Work Regulation
Jun 24, 2016
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My question is to Minister Dalidakis representing the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation. Recently Dr Meagan Tyler, the co-convenor of the Nordic Model Information Network — a global alliance of researchers focusing on sex work — has been touring the country discussing the pros of the so-called 'Swedish model'. She has called for Victoria to adopt this approach to sex work, which aims to decriminalise sex workers but criminalise the clients of sex workers. This is a ridiculous approach, which in other jurisdictions has led to increased violence against sex workers and further stigmatisation of those workers, who are...
Revise timeline for level crossing removal
Jun 23, 2016
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My question today is for the Minister for Public Transport. High Street, Reservoir, is a major north–south arterial road which connects to the M80 ring-road in the north and Melbourne's inner city in the south. The 2014 RACV red spot survey found that the level crossing consisting of the South Morang train line, High Street, Cheddar Road and Spring Street and carrying 32 000 cars per day was the third most congested area in Victoria. The intersection comes to a standstill between 7.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. as the boom gates are closed for over 25 minutes during this peak time.
The level crossing removals...
Medicinal Cannabis
Jun 8, 2016
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — My question is for the Minister for Agriculture, the Honourable Jaala Pulford. Following the passing of the Access to Medicinal Cannabis Act 2016 earlier this year, the horticultural trial is underway at a secure facility. The cultivation trial will cultivate and extract cannabis for supply to the first patient group. Though the trial will be providing ongoing information about the medicinal cannabis products to be produced in Victoria, an initial strain and ratio has been selected for cultivation. Can the minister advise as to the strain of cannabis being used in the current government trial, including the ratio...
How many charges = convictions
Jun 7, 2016
MS Patten — To ask the Minister for Training and Skills (for the Minister for Police): In relation to raids on suspicion of selling drug-related paraphernalia in the 2014-15 period —
(a) how many charges were laid for the offence of supplying under section 80W of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981;
(b) how many of those charges resulted in convictions.
ANSWER:
I am informed that:
I refer to my response provided to Questions 5284 to 5291.
Searches of properties must only be conducted in accordance with the Victoria Police operational policy. Victoria Police advises that no searches of properties were undertaken on suspicion of selling drug-related...
Coburg Riots
Jun 7, 2016
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My question concerns the recent riots in Coburg and is directed to the Minister for Police in the other place. On the Monday after the riots I went to the wonderfully diverse Coburg shopping precinct to talk to traders forced to close down their businesses after radicals and racists decided to spend a Saturday storming the streets with their message of hate. I believe in and strongly advocate for the right to protest, but spreading violence and harm is not a protected activity. However, I was concerned to hear the police minister suggest a ban on masks in...
E-cigarettes
May 26, 2016
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My question is for the Minister for Health, represented by Minister Mikakos. Yesterday the government introduced a bill to regulate the sale, promotion and use of e-cigarette products. Health minister Jill Hennessy has said that by bringing e-cigarettes into line with all tobacco products, the government is taking action to protect children from potential harm. Yet e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco or even nicotine. In fact unlike every other country in the world, the supply, possession or use of e-cigarettes that contain nicotine is illegal in Victoria. This is not about protecting children by restricting a product that the...
Safe Injecting Facilities
May 25, 2016
Ms Patten(Northern Metropolitan) — My constituency question is for the Minister for Health. Last week it was really great to read that the Victoria Street Business Association had finally declared its support for safe injecting facilities. Since our inception the Australian Sex Party has been advocating for the implementation of such facilities, especially in Richmond, based on the evidence that they are an incredibly effective and proven harm reduction measure.
We have seen increased law enforcement, and turning a blind eye to the issue has led to nothing except for drug-related harm and deaths in the area as well as dangers not only...
Long-range Acoustic Devices
May 25, 2016
Ms Patten(Northern Metropolitan) — My question is to the Honourable Steve Herbert, representing our new Minister for Police. Recent reports by the ABC and other news outlets suggest that Victoria Police has purchased long-range acoustic devices (LRADs), or sound weapons. They can be used as tools for long-range communication but have also been used as weapons for crowd control. The devices were used against protesters in Pittsburgh, USA, during the G20 summit, leaving one protester with permanent hearing damage.
The use policy for these weapons is not publicly available through the Victoria Police manual, and news outlets have reported being denied permission to see...
Medicinal Cannabis
May 5, 2016
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My constituency question is for the Minister for Health. A mother in my region recently approached me to express her frustration about the lack of information about the upcoming medicinal cannabis program for children like hers with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. Parents want to know the details of what the government is producing. Currently children in Victoria are using very specific strains and have been doing so successfully for many years. They want to know what strains the government is now growing; whether the seeds are genetically modified; the ratio of cannabinoids, cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol...