Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (16:44:41) — I would like to speak briefly to this bill, as I was intending to do last May, I believe it was. These notes and these thoughts have been around for a while. I have looked at this legislation. I looked at it back in May. I looked at it prior to that. I was very supportive of the referral to the select committee. I think that process was actually a good process, and it showed what a parliamentary committee can do. While there were two separate reports, I know the recommendations were largely bipartisan. From the...
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:25:33) — I must say that I have been incredibly torn on this. I think this legislation is much needed. I think it is also innovative and in some ways quite unique, which, as Ms Springle said, will lead to unintended consequences. I think we are seeing that with the number of amendments that the government has put forward today. When rolling out the family violence information sharing legislation they have found those unintended consequences.
I think what has actually swayed me towards not supporting an inquiry is that the Victorian information commissioner has responded to this proposed legislation. That...
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) tabled following statement in accordance with Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006:
In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006, (the charter), I make this statement of compatibility with respect to the Charities Amendment (Charitable Purpose) Bill 2017.
In my opinion, the Charities Amendment (Charitable Purpose) Bill 2017, as introduced to the Legislative Council, is compatible with human rights as set out in the charter. I base my opinion on the reasons outlined in this statement.
Overview of bill
The main purposes of the Charities Amendment (Charitable Purpose) Bill are to:
amend the Charities Act...
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:00:22) — I move:
That the bill be now read a second time.
Sanitarium, the manufacturer of Australia's iconic breakfast cereal Weet-Bix, is a charity. As a nation we buy and consume more than 1.4 billion Weet-Bix per year, yet as a consequence of its charitable status, Sanitarium pays no company tax in Australia, quite unlike its multinational competitors Kellogg's, Kraft and Nestlé.
Were Sanitarium still based in Melbourne where it was founded, it would also be entitled to exemptions from various Victorian taxes, including land tax, stamp duty and payroll tax.
How is this possible? That the manufacture and sale of breakfast...
Westgate Tunnel Project
Feb 21, 2018
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (11:25:06) — I rise to speak somewhat briefly on the motion moved by Mr Davis that seeks to revoke the various planning permits relevant to the West Gate tunnel project. It is interesting that this is just one of two of these revocation motions that we will be debating today.
I think this is partly why Australians are disengaged from politics. In 2015 only 19 per cent of our population had even some trust in political parties, and that is a statistic that has been in steady decline. Our communities — and I am sure we all experience it when we...
Melbourne Planning Scheme – Federation Square
Feb 21, 2018
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (15:43:20) — I will sadly only get to speak briefly on this very important motion that has been put forward by Dr Ratnam, yet again another revocation motion. I did want to speak at length on this issue because this is something I think is important. Unfortunately we heard Mr Dalidakis speak in a limited way but many times over, so we heard a 3-minute contribution repeated 20 times.
I love Federation Square, and I have always loved Federation Square. From the beginning, when I saw that design, I have been one of the ones that thought it was cool. I was...
Firearms amendment
Feb 6, 2018
Ms PATTEN — Thank you, Acting President, and I appreciate you allowing me to speak briefly on Mr O'Donohue's amendment. I support this amendment. I find this bill largely problematic in many aspects. I find that it is incredibly discretionary in that once a firearm prohibition order has been made it allows police officers, without warrant or consent, to enter and search the premises of the person subject to the firearm prohibition order. I do think that there needs to be a good level of oversight here, and I do think that extending that level of oversight to the Magistrates Court is...
Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Medically Supervised Injecting Centre) Bill 2017
Dec 14, 2017
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (14:28:40) — I am very pleased to rise to speak to the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Medically Supervised Injecting Centre) Bill 2017. I am also pleased to be following the passionate, if somewhat simple, words of Mr Finn.
Honourable members interjecting.
Ms PATTEN — It is simple: 'Just stop drugs'.
Mr Finn — Yes, that's right.
Ms PATTEN — 'Just stop drugs'.
Mr Finn — It's very simple.
Ms PATTEN — It is simple, Mr Finn. If we can recall, just before Mr Finn leaves the chamber, that a number of the people — in fact the vast number — are dying from prescription drugs. So maybe we should just ban prescription drugs, all drugs — and of course...
Charities Amendment (Charitable Purpose) Bill 2017
Dec 14, 2017
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) introduced a bill for an act to amend the Charities Act 1978 to exclude the advancement of religion as a charitable purpose, to amend the Duties Act 2000, the Payroll Tax Act 2007 and the Land Tax Act 2005, and for other purposes.
Read first time....
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (17:31:23) — I would like to rise and make a few brief comments about the State Taxation Acts Further Amendment Bill 2017, that being the second state taxation bill we have seen before this house. I do not think I can possibly go to the detail that Ms Shing or previous speakers have gone to, but in going through this bill, I see it amends at least 10 acts and implements some of the fiscal policies that this government took to the election. Certainly we have heard them wax lyrical about them. The bill also makes technical amendments to remove...