Rachel presented a member’s statement on her attendance to the 2025 David Penington Oration. This year’s oration was presented by former Magistrate of the Victorian Drug court, Tony Parsons. This event commemorates the life and work of Professor David Penington, former chair of the Victorian Premier’s Drug Advisory Council and the Victorian Government’s Drug Policy Expert Committee. David’s approach to drug policy was compassionate, rational and evidence based. He advocated for a legal, regulated cannabis market.
Thursday the 11th of September, 2025
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
The annual David Penington Oration honours David Penington AC, a courageous advocate for drug law reform. This year it was a particular privilege to see the oration delivered by none other than Tony Parsons. As a former magistrate of the Drug Court, Tony has seen firsthand how current laws fail our most vulnerable Victorians. Tony spoke about how all the way back in the late 1990s then Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett was supportive of decriminalising cannabis, setting up a drug advisory council headed up by David Penington to investigate how Victoria could better respond to illicit drug use.
Almost 30 years ago the willpower was there, and it seemed like cannabis would be decriminalised until the Premier unfortunately was overruled by the party. At the time Victoria had the opportunity to become a world leader, and now we are not even a world follower. All around the world we are witnessing cannabis law reform. The evidence is well and truly there, and public support is at an all-time high. And with that I will end on the same note as my colleague David Ettershank with a final message from Tony’s oration for cannabis reform: ‘It’s time.’
Related:
> LEGALISE IT – Rachel Payne
> Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis – Rachel Payne
> Motion to Refer the (Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis) Bill 2023 to a Bill Inquiry – Rachel Payne
> Motion for an Inquiry into Industrial Hemp – Debate – Rachel Payne
> Hemp Industry Bill 2024 First Reading – Rachel Payne
External:
> Penington Institute – Improving Community Safety in Relation to Drugs.
