Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (16:47:37): I am pleased to rise to speak to the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Amendment (Consent) Bill 2019. I must say I do not think it was something I was really planning to speak on or to be involved with, and oddly enough my interest in this bill was drawn out of the spent convictions inquiry that is being undertaken by the Legal and Social Issues Committee, and I will get onto that in a moment. This bill does meet recommendation 4 of the Gorton review, which recognised that married women are discriminated against and married women within the...

  Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (16:05:42): I must say, it has been a very energetic day in here, so it is always nice to talk about energy. I rise to speak on Mr Limbrick’s motion that requires the Environment and Planning Committee to inquire into the potential benefits of removing prohibitions from the Nuclear Activities (Prohibitions) Act 1983. I have had many conversations with Mr Limbrick and Mr Quilty about this on the back terrace. We have talked about nuclear energy over wine—and they have been interesting conversations—but I cannot say, by any means, that they have convinced me. The benefits of wine...

  Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (14:18:54): I am pleased to rise to speak to the Public Health and Wellbeing Bill 2019. I appreciate Ms Shing’s comments in regard to stigma, and I would just like to read a quote from Ban Ki-moon when he was United Nations Secretary-General. He said: HIV stigma remains the single-most important barrier to public action … it helps make AIDS the silent killer, because people fear the social disgrace of talking about it or taking easily available precautions. Stigma is the chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world. And this is so true....

  Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (17:11): I rise to speak to the Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2019 again. Certainly this bill has been with us for quite a number of years now. I have spoken to many people over those years and also in more recent times. I have been greatly assisted by some of the stakeholder meetings that we have had and the extensive correspondence that I have received on this issue both this year and in the previous Parliament. I have to say that a number of those letters, emails and phone calls...

  MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:10:06): I am delighted to rise to speak to Dr Cumming’s inaugural motion to this house. Congratulations on bringing this forward. It is an important motion, and I think it is great to speak about this alongside the recycling inquiry that is being undertaken. I think it adds some greater depth to the conversations that we are having and is also beautifully timed for World Environment Day. So well done, Dr Cumming. You did that extremely well. This is an important motion. I am not going to go over what Dr Cumming and also the previous speakers have...

  MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (10:57:03): I too would like to speak briefly on Mr Barton’s motion, which I think is a very sensible one and one which I am very pleased incorporates much of my region of Northern Metropolitan with the extension of the free tram zone around the universities. It is effectively 6 kilometres of track that would be added to the zone and affect 13 different tram routes. The overarching goal, which I think is a very good one, is to improve access to universities, hospitals, sporting precincts and of course the city. I would probably like to add that...

  MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:56:00): I rise to speak on the Appropriation (2019–2020) Bill 2019 and in doing so respond to the budget as well. Probably unlike some of our previous speakers, I will give credit where credit is due. I was chastised for the way I did my grading of the budget on budget day. A number of teachers told me that the C+ that I gave the budget was possibly harsh, but listening to the contributions today I would say some people would say that was generous. I think we have a budget where we are still achieving our AAA...

  MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (14:13:14): I move: That this house: (1) notes that:

(a) according to Victoria Police, the illegal cannabis industry in Victoria is worth an estimated $8.1 billion per annum; (b) the largest cohort of cannabis users in Victoria are young people; (c) significant police and justice resources are committed to the unlawful use and supply of cannabis every year;

(2) requires the Legal and Social Issues Committee to inquire into, consider and report, by no later than 2 March 2020, into the best means to:

(a) prevent young people and children from accessing and using cannabis in Victoria; (b) protect public health and...

  MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (17:14:28): I would like to begin this address-in-reply by acknowledging the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, who are the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which this Parliament meets, and to whom during the 59th Parliament I hope we can pay the ultimate respect of a fair and fulsome treaty process. Congratulations to you, President. I have enjoyed working with you so far, and I am sure it is only going to get better. I am looking forward to it. I would also like to congratulate all the members of the house on...

  MS PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (13:17:15): I too rise to join this motion to offer my condolences, and specifically I would also like to acknowledge Dr Ratnam and Mr Ondarchie and the very deep and close connection that this has to them. Like so many across the world and in this chamber, I was appalled and so incredibly saddened upon hearing the news of the awful terror attacks in Sri Lanka. The brutal murder of so many innocent people—meeting, worshipping and celebrating in churches and hotels. The fact that this attack followed so closely on the Christchurch tragedy makes...