Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — I am very pleased to speak on the Summary Offences Amendment (Move-on Laws) Bill 2015. I will be supporting the bill, which repeals laws that are not only essentially discriminatory but also create greater social exclusion. In its few short years the Australian Sex Party has always fought for freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and most importantly freedom of expression. As a newly elected member this is one of the few bills that I have read and will now speak on. As I read it, I was struck by the fact that the bill contravenes articles 9, 15,...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — I would like to speak briefly on this bill, the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Funding of Non Government Schools) Bill 2014. This bill provides a formula to ensure that nongovernment schools receive at least 25 per cent of recurrent education funding. It is at this point that I have a problem with this bill. If we are looking at an equitable and fair system for our education funding, I do not think that providing a blanket flat rate for any nongovernment school answers that. I certainly believe in education and agree with the minister when he said in...

Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — President, I congratulate you on your re-election. It is a role I know you will continue to discharge with the fairness and professionalism you have shown in the past. I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we stand on today, the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to their elders, both past and present. From Brunswick to Broadmeadows and Carlton to Craigieburn, I cannot believe how lucky I am to be representing the Northern Metropolitan Region of Victoria. It is as diverse a region as you will find anywhere in Australia and a melting pot for...