Federal parliament hopeful Fiona Patten will make a senate inquiry into medicinal cannabis a priority should she win a seat in the forthcoming general election.
Patten, who is standing for the Legalise Cannabis Party, insisted it was time for a “root and branch” review of the sector and one she would initiate if she is successful at the ballot box.
With many commentators believing no party is likely to hold a majority after the election, a minority government will rely on support from cross benchers to pass legislation.
That could open the door for minority parties to secure promises for individual causes in exchange for their support, Patten said.
“I initiated numerous inquiries over eight years in the Victorian state parliament, from voluntary assisted dying to sex worker reform,” she said. “They are not the easiest things to get up, but it’s possible I could have a balance power after the election which would enable me to negotiate with the government of the day.
“They will struggle to pass legislation without the help of cross benchers so that gives you negotiating power. I never horse trade, but we could argue our case cogently and successfully that we need a review of where medicinal cannabis currently sits.”
Opponents of cannabis would likely agree that a review is warranted, Patten added, but that did not mean the medicinal cannabis industry should be “fearful” of any inquiry.
Speaking during an industry webinar to outline her position and to rally support for her campaign, Patten said she wanted a comprehensive review of the entire medicinal cannabis ecosystem, with input from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Office of Drug Control and state health departments.
It would analyse how the bodies could work closer together and “how we can ensure our industry can continue to prosper and thrive even more than it is”.
The last inquiry into the industry was in 2020, four years after medical legalisation.
Several recommendations were implemented, but many were not, the former Reason Party leader said.
“Now that we are in our 10th year of medicinal cannabis regulation in Australia, it is time for a new, broad senate inquiry that reviews the current regulatory scheme from top to bottom,” Patten said.
Having a presence in Canberra would further build on the progress made by the industry associations in getting in the ear of politicians and lobbying for change, Patten stressed.
“All of us who have visited MPs in Canberra know the response we get today is very different from the response we got five or 10 years ago,” she said.
“I want to see a strong local industry that is growing and exporting, and in these early days of our industry we still need support to do that.
“The government supports industries across the sectors so I feel we have an opportunity to campaign and advocate for that. I hope we would start to see support from the government of the day.”
Patten also warned that the industry needs to be aware of the “small, but growing” number of detractors who are “getting greater media attention talking negatively about our industry”.
Instead of achieving the sector’s aim of opening up access – with potential adult-use legalisation further down the track – such unopposed criticism could lead to tighter restrictions and regulations.
“They will get in the ears of the conservatives – and by that I meant popularist politicians – and we could see real pressure on our industry,” she said. “We need to be very aware of that.”
Having a pro-cannabis voice in Canberra would help counter such a narrative, she said.
As for Patten’s chances of becoming the Legalise Cannabis Party’s first federally-elected MP, hopes are high.
She said the battle for Victoria’s sixth senate seat is likely to be a shootout between Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party and Legalise Cannabis.
Patten described the Trumpet of Patriots as an “assault on the senses”.
“Seeing the Legalise Cannabis Party on a ballot for many Australians could come as welcome relief,” she said. “They might not look at the seriousness of the policies and the social justice or the medical reasons for changing the laws, but they will see the leaf on the ballot, and think, ‘I don’t like any of the others, I’ll vote for that’.
“In 2022, the party secured 3% of the vote in Victoria, and came very close to winning, without doing anything. And we have grown since then.
“It is being said [by political commentators] that if the party increases its vote by 50% – so we get 4.5% to 5% – we’re in a very good position to pick up a place in the senate.”
While Legalise Cannabis has become significantly more savvy and organised as a political party – and more respected by the electorate and other political movements – what hasn’t altered is its finances.
Funds are still tight, Patten said, revealing that while Clive Palmer spends countless millions on the campaign trail, the Legalise Cannabis party has so far raised around half of the A$250,000 needed to run even a modest advertising campaign.
“We are grateful to members of the industry who have supported us, but if more could do so that would be fantastic,” she said. “We need boots on the ground and a few dollars in the bank.”
Referring to the overarching aim of the party – to legalise cannabis – Patten said its first aim is to stop cannabis use from being criminalised.
“To that end, if successful, I plan to amend the criminal code to allow states to make laws for cannabis,” she said. “The prime minister rightly says that cannabis regulation is a matter for the states.
“We have seen the impact when members of parliament are dedicated to changing cannabis laws. Victoria’s Legalise Cannabis MPs Rachel Payne and David Ettershank have been incredibly successful in supporting and advocating for medicinal cannabis.
“Their achievements include the recent positive changes to the Road Safety Act for medicinal cannabis patients, and an inquiry into the workplace testing of medicinal cannabis patients that is leading to reform.
“They also oversaw the successful inquiry into the Victorian hemp industry.
“There is no doubt that having a representative that is passionate about medicinal cannabis could have a significant influence in the federal parliament.”
To donate to Patten’s campaign, click here and to volunteer, click here.
