Wednesday, 30 October 2024

 David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (10:04): Who doesn’t love a birthday, especially when you are young? It was remiss of me last sitting week not to have acknowledged the second birthday of the registration of Legalise Cannabis Victoria. Hasn’t it been an exciting two years? Legalise Cannabis has caught a wave of enthusiasm from the public, not only for cannabis and drug reform but also for progressive and pragmatic reform that gets stuff done. In terms of members, we note with excitement that nationally Legalise Cannabis is the fastest growing political party. Likewise, we have seen a steady improvement in our electoral performance, with multiple by-elections and state elections indicating an underlying primary vote of between 4 and 12 per cent. We also have high hopes, if you will pardon the pun, of seeing a graduate of this place, Ms Fiona Patten, elected to the Senate in the new year. While Legalise Cannabis is so young, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the amazing persistence of many of our members and their fellow travellers, who have been campaigning on the reform issue for some 50 years. We thank and congratulate them. So happy birthday and many happy electoral returns to Legalise Cannabis Victoria.