Terrorism (Community Protection) Amendment Bill 2015
Dec 18, 2015
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — I have a question about clause 1(a). In terms of remote access to electronic equipment — while I appreciate that is probably a lot less intrusive than physical access and physical searches — I am assuming this will lead to an increase in covert search warrants. It will be a less onerous option for the police and probably a better one, but it is potentially concerning. I am wondering if the minister can clarify what the limits are to the remote electronic search. For example, can police access passwords and then view a person's various...
Port of Melbourne Lease
Dec 10, 2015
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — I am very happy to rise to speak, probably albeit quite briefly, even though I have probably got the most time to speak if I choose to, on the Delivering Victorian Infrastructure (Port of Melbourne Lease Transaction) Bill 2015. With it being the last day of our first year of this Parliament it is interesting to reflect on the fact that we have done so much, but this is an enormous piece of legislation. It is probably the biggest piece of legislation I have had to understand. I reflect now that 12 months ago my...
Relationships Amendment Bill 2015
Dec 10, 2015
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — I am delighted to be speaking briefly on the Relationships Amendment Bill 2015. As previous speakers have mentioned, this is a small bill that effectively brings Victoria in line with the rest of Australia, and possibly not before time. I am pleased Ms Pennicuik's diligent work in nearly eight years of campaigning for these small amendments to be made has finally paid off. I also note that my partner will be very pleased about this, because we live in separate states. He will be delighted to know that we will now be recognised — —
Mr...
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — I am pleased to speak on Mr Purcell's motion to give a reference to the Law Reform, Road and Community Safety Committee to consider the impact of lowering the probationary driving age in Victoria to 17 years. I am a member of the committee and I look forward to exploring the topic via the committee process. I thank Mr Melhem for wishing the committee well; I appreciate that. I am very supportive of this motion. It is common sense to consider what the rest of the country is doing and what is happening around the...
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — I am very happy to get a chance to speak on the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2015. It has been a great privilege to listen to all of the other speakers whatever their views have been, and I do respect those views. I would just like to acknowledge Mr Ramsay's last point that this is not and should not be a debate about abortion. Some of the speakers have tried to make it about that, but it is not. This bill is about creating safe access zones so that women...
Local Government Rates
Nov 24, 2015
Petition, 24/11/15
Fiona Patten MLC (Northern Metropolitan):
To the Legislative Council of Victoria -
The petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the tremendous injury to be caused to the Victorian community by the imposition of a rates capping and variation system on Victorian local government. The imposition of such a system shall have adverse consequences for local ratepayers via significant reductions in local services and local infrastructure, with major losses for local government employment. This matter exacerbates funding cuts enforced via the commonwealth freeze of federal assistance grant indexation, which has already...
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) (Enforcement) Amendment Bill 2015
Sep 3, 2015
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — I am very happy to be speaking on my old friend, the Victorian classification act and the new bill. The act is a piece of legislation I have spent decades talking about, writing about and campaigning on. In fact it was probably our first connection, Ms Symes, was it not?
As a whole I support the bill's changes to the act, which came out of the Australian Law Reform Commission's recommendations on classification changes in Australia. The classification tools that are being introduced will allow computer games in particular to be classified more easily. One of...
Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Safe Access) Bill 2015, statement of compatability
Aug 19, 2015
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, I make this statement of compatibility with respect to the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Safe Access) Bill 2015.
In my opinion, the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Safe Access) Bill 2015, as introduced to the Legislative Council, is compatible with the human rights protected by the charter. I base my opinion on the reasons outlined in this statement.
Overview of bill
The bill will insert a new section into the Public Health...
Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — I move:
That the bill be now read a second time.
I rise today to speak to the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Safe Access) Bill 2015.
The bill is designed to create safe access around premises offering reproductive health services, in order to protect and promote women's reproductive health. It's about medical privacy and the rights of women who are accessing a legal medical service to do so without fear of intimidation or harassment.
This bill, the first I have...
Marriage Equality
Aug 6, 2015
Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — I rise today to support marriage equality. While I recognise that this is a federal matter I want to put on the record that in 2015 we are still squabbling about whether two consenting adults can legally or formally recognise their union in Australia. It has been 14 years since the Netherlands adopted marriage equality, and subsequently we have seen New Zealand, Ireland and the United States adopt the concept. It is really time for Australia to do it.
The case for marriage equality is robust, especially in Victoria. Most of the local councils in my...