Fiona Patten's Reason Party - Score 'Brilliant'

Note: The page below has been archived and will no longer be updated. In the months leading up to Victoria’s state election on 26 November 2022, this page was updated and maintained to guide voters on the issue of sex workers’ rights.

On 26 November 2022, Victorians will vote in a state election. Fiona Patten’s Reason Party is registered as a political party to contest this election.

We give the Reason Party a ‘Brilliant’ rating when it comes to sex workers’ rights. Why?

The Reason Party has only one sitting member, Fiona Patten, herself a former sex worker. 

The Positives

Fiona Patten:

  • voted YES to decriminalise sex work1
  • has a long history of defending sex workers’ rights and sexual freedoms more broadly, having founded the Sex Party in 2009. In 2018 the Sex Party renamed the Reason Party. 
  • has repeatedly spoken in parliament, raising the plight of sex workers numerous times.
  • Throughout 2020 and 2021 she conducted a review of Victoria’s sex work laws, providing key recommendations to the Victorian Government which ultimately led to the formation of the Sex Work Decriminalisation Bill 2021 (Vic), which passed into law in 2022.
  • worked with the Victorian Government to put sex workers’ right on the political agenda, paving the way for the passage of sex work decriminalisation laws
  • has repeatedly engaged with social media, print media, TV and radio to raise the importance of decriminalising sex work
  • twice appeared on Australia’s only sex work radio show, Behind Closed Doors2
  • voted YES to successfully introduce new laws which classify the non-payment of sex work service fees as sexual assault or rape3

In our view, Victoria would not have been able to decriminalise sex work without Fiona Patten as a sitting member of parliament and her decades of tireless advocacy on sex workers’ rights.

Fiona Patten's Reason Party
Fiona Patten represents the Reason Party

Watch Ms Patten’s parliamentary speech in support of the Sex Work Decriminalisation Bill 2021 (Vic).

Authorised by Sex Work Law Reform Victoria Inc., 79-81 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, 3182

1. On 30 August 2022, Fiona Patten voted YES to help pass the Justice Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences and Other Matters) Bill 2022 (Vic). Clause 5 of the bill redefines sexual consent so that the non-payment of sexual service fees will be classified as rape or sexual assault. To see Ms Patten’s voting record on this bill, see page 3139 of Hansard for the Legislative Council on 30 August 2022.

2. Behind Closed Doors radio show airs on Melbourne community radio station 3CR. Fiona Patten appeared on two episodes:

Sex Work Decriminalisation Bill in Parliament (17 February 2022)

MP Fiona Patten: Sex Work Review Update (15 October 2020)

3. For Fiona Patten’s voting record on sex work decriminalisation, see page 267 of Hansard for the Legislative Council of the Victorian Parliament on 10 February 2022.

This webpage is provided as a guide to help inform voters about how political parties and candidates have performed when it comes to sex workers’ rights. 

Sex Work Law Reform Victoria is not affiliated with any political party, candidate, councillor or local government. Sex Work Law Reform Victoria Inc. does not endorse or campaign for any political party or candidate. We believe all political parties can potentially work towards enhancing sex workers’ rights and we encourage all political parties to take an ongoing interest in sex workers’ rights. We have never donated to a political party, candidate, councillor or local government. We have never received money from any political parties, candidates, councillors or local governments. We have never applied for or received grants from the Victorian Government or any local government. We are a registered not-for-profit organisation.

We are not a registered charity.

We understand sex workers have a wide range of views about politics and we respect diversity of views.

© Sex Work Law Reform Victoria 2022

Last updated: 16 December 2022