Fiona Patten
Fiona Heather Patten (born May 1964) is an Australian politician. She is 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.
Fiona Patten | |
|---|---|
Fiona Patten in 2013 | |
| Leader of Reason Australia | |
| Assumed office (as Reason Party) 29 January 2018 | |
| 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 59) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Political party | Reason Australia (since 2009) |
| Other political affiliations | Hare-Clark Independent (1991–1992) Independent (1992–2009) |
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.