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...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (18:01:48): I guess in many ways I am sad to be speaking to this bill again. We spoke about it in December 2016. Many of us in this chamber will remember that particular day, and I am sure many of the people in the gallery will also remember that particular day, because it was horrible, it was absolutely horrible. The vileness of what was said on that day I will not forget. I was looking back at the notes and the contribution that I had made on that day, and I did not speak positively. I seemed to...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (13:05:36): Pursuant to standing order 23.29, I lay on the table a report from the Legal and Social Issues Committee on the inquiry into a legislated spent convictions scheme, including appendices, extract of proceedings and a minority report. I further present transcripts of evidence, and I move: That the transcripts of evidence lie on the table and the report be published. Motion agreed to. Ms PATTEN: I move: That the Council take note of the report. In doing so I am very pleased to present this first report from the Legal and Social Issues Committee for the 59th Parliament—in...

  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...