The Latest Breaking News from Rachel Payne

Victorian microparty MPs including Georgie Purcell to face re-election struggle after group voting tickets abolished

Voters will be required to number at least five parties above the line in order of preference after bill passed upper house 33 votes to four

The Guardian - AU · Aug 12

Upper house shake-up looms as old voting system binned

Victoria has become the last Australian jurisdiction to abolish a voting system that enabled candidates to be elected with a fraction of first preferences.

AAP · Aug 12

Voting in Victoria is broken. Here’s how it could be fixed and who would benefit

Victoria is the only state to still use group voting tickets to elect its upper house. What will it mean for voters and the parliament if it abolishes them?

The Guardian - AU · Dec 1, 2025

Victoria prepares to launch medicinal cannabis driving trial

Bill introduced on Tuesday will allow medicinal cannabis users to take part in closed-circuit trial

The Guardian - AU · Oct 17, 2023

Push for legal personal marijuana use in NSW, Vic, WA

The Legalise Cannabis Party is poised to introduce bills to decriminalise the drug for personal use in NSW, Victoria and Western Australian parliaments.

AAP · Jun 19, 2023

Legalise Cannabis makes united push for personal marijuana use in three Australian states

The party’s bill allowing adults to possess and grow small quantities of the drug at home will be introduced across Victoria, NSW and WA

The Guardian - AU · Jun 19, 2023

Industrial hemp vying to take over Victoria’s timber industry, but not all politicians agree

Hemp advocates hail the much-maligned crop as the billion-dollar saviour to Victoria's ailing timber industry, but politicians are concerned the industry could pave the way to legalising cannabis.

ABC News · Jun 1, 2023

Just Stop Oil protestor who glued himself to road calls government 'embarrassing'

The Wirral man was among six protesters who were found guilty of disrupting traffic in October last year

Liverpool Echo · Apr 6, 2023

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten on finding her place after two terms as a politician

Since conceding defeat in December, the former member of the Victorian Legislative Council has finished chemotherapy and is looking for the next opportunity to advocate for change.

ABC News · Mar 12, 2023

Victoria’s major parties back overhaul of drug-driving laws for medicinal cannabis users

The government and opposition are backing Legalise Cannabis effort to change ‘unfair’ road safety laws

The Guardian - AU · Mar 8, 2023