Ms PATTEN — I would also just like to mention in regard to yesterday's election of Mr Trump that it must be noted that five more states in the US have legalised the personal use of cannabis....

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — Last week I attended a meeting at Abbotsford Convent to welcome the new CEO, Collette Brennan, and hear her vision for this wonderfully unique place. The plan is ambitious and if it is realised the 6.8 hectares of gardens and buildings will be developed, renovated and connected not only with the city but with the Yarra River and surrounding suburbs. I was impressed that they want to move from 60 per cent usage of the buildings to 100 per cent, and their plans to achieve this appear sound. They will use commercial leases to subsidise community leases. This will...

Ms PATTEN — I would also like to congratulate radio station JOY 94.9 on their 24th year on air. I was pleased to attend their annual general meeting. I would also like to congratulate the 200 volunteers that make this wonderful resource for the LGBTI community possible, as well as outgoing president Jed Gilbert; David McCarthy, for being awarded the coveted award of life membership for his dedication and 12 years on air; Matt McDonnell for the Addam Stobbs broadcasting excellence award on his program coverage of the Orlando massacre; and Josh Pearson, the winner of the Anne Hamilton award for tireless volunteering. May I also...

Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan): I rise today to echo some of the words of my colleagues from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party on the incredibly worrying recent spate of gun-related crimes, particularly in the electorate of Northern Metropolitan Region. It seems that every other day when I watch the news there is a drive-by shooting or another gun haul, as I said, particularly in the northern suburbs and in my electorate. Although these are largely gang and particularly drug related they are not always, and they are linked to domestic violence and other personal disputes, so I feel like we need to...

Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — On 18 May the 2016 Minister for Health Volunteer Awards recognised 16 individuals and teams who generously devote their time and talents in a variety of health and community sectors. One such recipient was DanceWize. DanceWize is a program of Harm Reduction Victoria. It uses peer education to reduce drug and alcohol-related harm at Victorian dance parties, festivals and nightclubs. Its Outstanding Achievement by a Volunteer: Supporting Diversity award recognises the incredible hard work this organisation does in the community health sector. Its provision of chill-out rooms and its non-judgemental approach to helping recreational drug users are vital tools in keeping...

Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — I rise to speak on the horrific events that occurred at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on 12 June. Nightclubs have been a historically safe space for the LGBTI community, a place without fear, without stigma or judgement. The victims were gay, and many of them were people of colour. All of them were in what they thought was a safe space. We must not hesitate to blame the level and breadth of violence on the ease of access to deadly weapons designed to kill rapidly and indiscriminately. We must not fail to acknowledge that the target location was reflective of...

Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — Last Friday I had the great pleasure of attending the Human Rights Law Centre's (HRLC) annual fundraising dinner with my colleague Ms Pennicuik. It was in the stunning Plaza Ballroom. We were extremely lucky to have the sensational and moving Stan Grant as keynote speaker. He was joined by Victoria's equal opportunity and human rights commissioner, Kristen Hilton, and the wonderful HRLC staff. The title, '10 years of impact', was apt. The HRLC's advocacy for asylum seekers, the LGBTI community, the first peoples and other vulnerable groups has had an incredible impact. I have had the privilege of working...

Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — I was delighted to attend the opening of my electorate office. I was joined by colleagues, former colleagues and friends, and I was very pleased to be there. It is at 747 Sydney Road in Brunswick, and it is in the middle of a very bustling small business precinct. I have been enjoying meeting all my new neighbours and having the occasional constituent dropping in to give me pearls of wisdom about many areas of my electorate. As many members know, it has been a fairly long and, one could almost say, arduous process to find the perfect location for...

Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — Last weekend I had an absolutely fabulous time celebrating the Australian Sex Party's inaugural appearance at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. In 1978 the Gay Solidarity Group planned an event in commemoration of the Stonewall riots, where LGBTI protesters and their supporters demonstrated against the homophobic, racial and gender-based discrimination and harassment they faced. While the parade has now grown into a symbol of gay rights throughout the nation, it was birthed from the same place as so many movements for equality — that is, civil liberties. The long-awaited apology to the 78ers for the violence they...

Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — Thank you very much for the mention. Speaking of finalists, last week along with a number of colleagues from this house I had the pleasure of attending the 2015 VicHealth Awards. I was very pleased to see the number of northern metro organisations and projects that made it into the final. That really recognised the hard work of these organisations and projects in supporting healthier and happier communities in my Northern Metropolitan Region. I would like to recognise the northern metropolitan finalists for their innovative and clever projects: Darebin Says No to Family Violence, a film...