Fiona Patten | |
|---|---|
 Fiona Patten in 2013 | |
| Leader of Reason Australia[a] | |
| In office (as Reason Party) 29 January 2018 – 7 March 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Herself (as Leader of the Australian Sex Party) |
| In office (as Australian Sex Party) 5 December 2009 – 24 November 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| Succeeded by | Herself (as Leader of the Australian Reason Party) |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Northern Metropolitan | |
| In office 29 November 2014 – 26 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Matthew Guy |
| President of the Eros Association | |
| In office 21 November 1992 – 23 November 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Organisation established |
| Succeeded by | David Watt |
| Director of the National Museum of Erotica | |
| Assumed office 1 March 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Institution established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Fiona Heather Patten May 1964 (age 60) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Political party | Legalise Cannabis (since 2024) |
| Other political affiliations | Hare-Clark independent (1991–1992) Independent (1992–2009) Reason Australia[a] (2009–2024) |
| Residence(s) | Melbourne, Australia |
| Education | Hawker College |
| Alma mater | University of Canberra |
| Occupation | Chief executive officer (eros association) Fashion designer (body politics) |
| Profession | Lobbyist Businesswoman Politician Former sex worker |
Fiona Heather Patten (born May 1964) is an Australian former politician. She was the leader of Reason Australia (also known as the Reason Party) and was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council between 2014 and 2022, representing the Northern Metropolitan Region until she lost her seat at the 2022 state election.
Patten established the Australian Sex Party in 2009 to focus on personal freedoms after deep frustration with stagnation on censorship, freedom, marriage equality and drug law reform. On 22 August 2017, it was announced that the Australian Sex Party would be changing its name to the Reason Party.[1][2][3]
Before entering politics, Patten was the CEO of Australia's national adult industry association, Eros Association. She championed sexual rights and health movements for more than 20 years, particularly on HIV/AIDS, after initially starting out as a small business owner with her own fashion label.
During her time as a Victorian MP, Patten has been credited for playing pivotal roles in achieving social reforms in Victoria, with examples including the passage of Victoria's assisted dying legislation, the trial of a medically supervised drug injecting room in Richmond, relaxing laws for ride-share companies such as Uber and establishing buffer zones for abortion clinics to keep protesters away from patients and staff.[4][5]
According to The Age, between November 2018 and November 2021, Patten voted with the Andrews Government's position 74.3% of the time, the second-most of any Legislative Council crossbencher, behind only Andy Meddick of the Animal Justice Party.[6]
In March 2024, Patten announced that she was deregistering Reason Australia.[7]
In August 2024, it was announced that Fiona Patten will be the lead Senate candidate of Legalise Cannabis Australia (also known as the Legalise Cannabis Party) in Victoria in the next Australian federal election.[8][9]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Australian Sex Party to become the Reason Party". Smh.com.au. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "Sex Party to change name to Reason Party, founder Fiona Patten announces". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 22 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "Sex Party changes its name, MP takes aim at 'extremists' in Australian politics". SBS News. 22 August 2017. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ Preiss, Benjamin (11 December 2018). "Fiona Patten wins back upper house seat after nervous two-week wait". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Carey, Adam (11 December 2018). "Party in the upper house: Who's who on new Victorian crossbench". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Sakkal, Paul (26 November 2021). "'Is this what compliant looks like?': Victoria's crossbench conflict". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ Godde, Callum (7 March 2024). "Prominent ex-Victorian MP rules out political comeback". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Lead Candidate Announcement". legalisecannabis.org.au. Legalise Cannabis Australia. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Fiona Patten to represent Legalise Cannabis Party and run for Senate seat". Herald Sun. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.