Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (11:10:29): I would like to make a few points about the Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Amendment Bill 2019. As we know, the bill seeks to establish a renewable energy target of 50 per cent of electricity by 2030 and provides for a determination of the minimum amount of renewable energy generation capacity required to meet these targets by 2030. The Reason Party will be supporting this bill today. Certainly I think 50 per cent is a very modest target, and I believe that we could definitely do better, but from all discussions 50 per cent is achievable,...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (16:13:53): I am pleased to rise to speak to Ms Maxwell’s motion. I think all of us absolutely do acknowledge the selfless dedication and commitment of our state’s emergency workers. We would all be unanimous in that and unanimous in reaffirming that emergency workers have the right to be protected, just as the community expects them to protect us. I have no doubt that many of us have been at the receiving end of that protection, have been at the receiving end of that assistance and many of the constituents that we represent are probably here today because of...

  Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (10:16:22): I move: That the bill be now read a second time. The Road Safety Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2019 proposes a reasonable change to the Road Safety Act 1986, to allow people who have been prescribed medicinal cannabis to drive—so long as they can drive safely. The bill provides that it is not an offence for a person’s blood or oral fluid to contain legal medicinal cannabis that is prescribed by a medical professional and taken in accordance with that prescription. This exception does not apply to a driver of a motor vehicle who is either impaired, or incapable of...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (16:13:53): I am pleased to rise to speak to Ms Maxwell’s motion. I think all of us absolutely do acknowledge the selfless dedication and commitment of our state’s emergency workers. We would all be unanimous in that and unanimous in reaffirming that emergency workers have the right to be protected, just as the community expects them to protect us. I have no doubt that many of us have been at the receiving end of that protection, have been at the receiving end of that assistance and many of the constituents that we represent are probably here today because...

  Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:34:32): I rise to speak to the Public Administration Amendment Bill 2019. This is a bill designed to clarify the standards that apply to public sector bodies in relation to the publication of public sector communications. Effectively this is designed to look at the types of advertising that the state government may run during election periods and whether it meets the existing regulations and whether those regulations are fit for purpose or whether they need to be tightened. I listened to Mr O’Donohue’s second-reading speech the other week, and it is very plain that this bill is very directed...

  Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (13:15:05): I move to introduce a bill for an act to amend the Road Safety Act 1986 to provide that prescription medicinal cannabis that does not impair driving is to be treated in the same manner as other prescription drugs and for other purposes, and I move: That the bill be now read a first time.   Motion agreed to. Read first time.   Ms PATTEN: I move: That the second reading be made an order of the day for the next day of meeting. Motion agreed to.  

Fiona Patten MP

Leader of Reason

Member for Northern Metropolitan Region

Introduction...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:01:24): Thank you to all the previous speakers who have spoken on this piece of legislation, and in particular Mr Gepp. I think Mr Gepp has just so beautifully and eloquently illustrated why we are doing this, why we must do this and why this bill will not solve what has happened in the past—and maybe will not solve what happens in the future—but is acknowledging the pain. It is acknowledging the heinous crimes that have been committed. It is acknowledging those brave people who came forward and spoke to those crimes. It acknowledges the people...

  Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (16:37:08): I move: That this house: (1) notes that International Overdose Awareness Day is on 31 August and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths and that:

(a) drugs continue to be a major contributor to accidental mortality in Australia;

(b) the number of overdose deaths by prescription medication is now larger than all illicit drugs combined;

(c) the number of accidental drug-related deaths is more than double the number of those killed in car accidents;

(d) in 2017 there was a total of 2162 drug-induced deaths in...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (17:14:26): I am very pleased that we were able to put this motion on the table today. This will be a special day. Many of us have been touched by organ donation as loved ones have donated their organs and loved ones have received those organs. I encourage everybody to become an organ donor. One donation can save 10 lives. I think Jersey Day is a great day. I am sad I am not wearing my jersey right now. I commend the motion. Motion agreed to.  

Fiona Patten MP

Leader of Reason

Member for Northern Metropolitan...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (10:02:08): I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Opinion columnist Amy Gray has regularly received abusive and threatening messages. 'You are just another bipolar whore who (bleep) and (bleep) (bleep) for cash and free drinks ugly pig’. In response to a column about global terrorism—she received messages calling her an '(effing) Arab lover’ who would be beheaded and raped with a knife. Freelance sports writer Erin Riley has for years received daily online abuse, including rape and death threats, as well as being the target of several huge mob attacks. During the first of these...