Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll

Sex worker, fashion designer, anti-censorship activist, fierce campaigner, political lobbyist and Member of Parliament - Fiona Patten’s journey to the top has been nothing if eventful!

Beginning as an AIDS educator with ACT sex worker advocacy group, WISE, she also held positions on the Board of the AIDS Action Council, as an AFAO (Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations) Committee Member and as the CEO of Australia’s national adult goods and services lobby group, the Eros Association. Frustrated and deeply disappointed with the lack of social change in censorship, drug law reform, euthanasia and same-sex marriage, she set up and registered the Australian Sex Party in 2009.

The Sex Party led with a strong focus on civil libertarian and personal freedom issues, with Fiona being the first Leader of a political party to call for a Royal Commission into child sex abuse in religious institutions. Fiona contested the 2014 Victorian State Election and won her upper house seat representing the Northern Metropolitan Region. As one of three crossbenchers, she currently holds the balance of power in Legislative Council.

Since her election, Fiona has successfully instigated landmark parliamentary inquiries and legislation, including Australia’s largest public inquiry into drug law reform. In August 2017, the Australian Sex Party was dissolved to make way for REASON, a movement of radical common sense. Her story will amaze and inspire you.