News & Updates – Rachel Payne MP – Legalise Cannabis Victoria
Here you will find news and updates from Rachel Payne MP, Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan Melbourne Region, covering her work in state parliament and across the community. This includes updates on her parliamentary questions and contributions, progress on Legalising Cannabis reform, and local South East Metropolitan Melbourne campaigns and other community initiatives. Check back regularly to stay across the latest media releases and news, or head to our Campaigns page to learn more about the issues Rachel is championing.
For media enquiries or to get in touch, contact Rachel’s office at or (03) 9651 8972.
Refugee Week 2026
Rachel spoke on Refugee Week, and the importance of celebrating the resilience and contributions of those who have rebuilt their lives here.
Prison lockdowns impact community reintegration
Rachel’s constituent of was just one of many women who have suffered under frequent prison lockdowns at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. She reported missing important appointments as a result, including housing and support appointments, necessary for successful community reintegration.
Establish a public family violence homicide database
Taking guidance from a NSW initiative, Rachel asked the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence to establish a publicly accessible database of homicides occurring in the context of an identifiable history of family violence in Victoria.
Outdoor Recreation Bill puts hunters before environment
Rachel voted against the government’s Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill 2026 and supported a motion to refer the legislation to a bill review.
Victoria is sleeping on police shortage solutions
While Rachel agreed upon the temporary measure to support Victoria Police at a time of police shortage, she reiterated several long-term solutions that would free up police time and resources.
Complaints processes must be accessible
Rachel asked how the Minister will ensure that Monash Health’s complaints process is made more accessible to individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those with a disability.
Regulating Informal Assisted Reproductive Treatment
Rachel has previously raised her concerns in the chamber about the dissolution of the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA), which was responsible for the regulation of Assisted Reproductive Treatment, and education programs.
St Kilda Gatehouse
Rachel spoke about the important supports provided to street-based sex workers by St Kilda Gatehouse. The non-profit organisation provides emergency aid, support referrals, a place to sleep and a sense of connection for some of the community’s most vulnerable. St Kilda Gatehouse also run programs for girls and young women impacted by sexual exploitation.
Medicinal Cannabis Driving Trial: Where’s the update?
Rachel asked the Minister for Roads and Road Safety for an update on the 18-month medicinal cannabis driving trial.
Rough sleepers need support, not punishment
Rachel spoke about the increase of rough sleeping due to the ongoing cost-of-living and housing crisis, and punitive measures adopted by some councils. She asked the Attorney-General what is being done to protect vulnerable Victorians living on the streets and requested a timeframe for the decriminalisation of begging.
Incentivise affordable housing in the South-East
While council-owned land can be rezoned for social and affordable housing development, the state government absorbs a significant portion of funds through the application of windfall gains tax.
Committee inquiry into Waste-to-Energy Infrastructure in Victoria
As a participating member of the Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Rachel raised several questions for the panel of stakeholders and industry experts during the final day of the public hearing.
YES to cautions, not arrests for possession
Rachel summed up her motion on police cautions instead of arrests for cannabis personal use possession. After listening to the evidence presented, the Legislative Council debated and ultimately agreed to the motion.
Mandatory polystyrene recycling: Keep it off our beaches!
Rachel asked if the government would consider a mandatory take-back scheme for expanded polystyrene packaging, after data revealed an alarming amount of polystyrene found on beaches in Victoria’s south-east.
Cautions not cuffs: Personal use possession
Rachel presented a motion on police cautions for cannabis possession. In 2024, Victoria Police updated their operations manual to prioritise cautions over arrests, for individuals possessing small quantities of cannabis for personal adult use.
Aged care residents have a right to die with dignity
Rachel noted that reports indicate a denial of access to information on voluntary assisted dying, among terminally ill aged care residents. Rachel called on the Minister for Ageing to take steps toward ensuring that information on voluntary assisted dying is freely available to patients, and for greater oversight around respecting patients’ rights to end their own life with dignity at home.
Cautions Not Cuffs: Time to Make Existing Police Policy the Law
Cannabis has been prohibited in Australia for almost a century. It is a failed policy. Australians continue to consume cannabis and they always will. In 2024 Victoria police acknowledged this, updating the Victorian Police Operational Manual to make cautioning the default option for minor, personal possession. It was the right call. But the arrests keep coming. Today, LCV is calling for what should have already happened: make cautioning the law.
Victory for Locals: VCAT Bins Filthy Dump Proposal in Hampton Park
Casey residents can breathe a collective sigh of relief – VCAT has upheld a decision to deny a contentious waste-transfer station in Hampton Park. Residents didn’t want it, the EPA rejected it and local Member Rachel Payne stood with residents to fight against it. Veolia fought all the way to VCAT, but they lost!
My Joint podcast
Rachel announced the launch of her new podcast, ‘My Joint’. On My Joint, honest conversations replace stigma. As the podcast demonstrates, the cannabis community is diverse, and cannabis consumers cannot be typecasted. Each week, Rachel sits down with experts, advocates, and everyday Australians to unpack the myths, realities, and the future of cannabis.
Let Victoria’s hemp industry blossom
Rachel asked the government to prioritise the introduction of standalone industrial hemp legislation. As a versatile and sustainable material for fuel, construction and cosmetics, the benefits of hemp are far-reaching. However, the Victorian government are still behind the eight-ball on hemp industry growth and investment. Rachel called on the government to remove the barriers to industrial hemp licensing, as industry growth would in turn assist Victorians with oil shortages, cost-of-living and affordable housing.
Balancing the scales: International Women’s Day 2026
The 8th of March marked International Women’s Day. During her member’s statement, Rachel encouraged the men in the Legislative Council to reflect on power and how they are helping to “balance the scales”.
End medication discrimination
Rachel spoke on a bill presented by her Legalise Cannabis Victoria colleague, David Ettershank MP. The Equal Opportunity Amendment (Medical Treatment) Bill 2026 amends the Equal Opportunity Act to prevent discrimination on the grounds of treatment for a medical condition. While this would encapsulate discrimination against medicinal cannabis patients, it is inclusive of all types of medication prescribed to treat a medical condition. If passed, this bill would include lawful protections against treatment-based discrimination in a variety of settings including employment, education, community clubs, accommodation and more.
Cardinia residents can’t get to TAFE
As Cardinia residents lack accessible TAFE options, Rachel asked if the government would commit to establishing a TAFE location within Cardinia Shire. Given the government’s focus on free TAFE with the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Free TAFE Guarantee) Bill 2026, campus accessibility must be considered.
Victoria needs free TAFE, but are we missing a ‘growing’ opportunity?
Rachel spoke on the government’s Education and Training Reform Amendment (Free TAFE Guarantee) Bill 2026. Rachel and Legalise Cannabis supported the provision of free TAFE, however noted that the guarantee features a narrow focus and cannot be legally enforced. In her speech, Rachel also raised the untapped potential of cannabis-related studies, to support a local cannabis market and hemp industry.
Prison phone calls keep families connected
Rachel asked the Minister for Corrections if the government would consider removing the prohibitive cost of prison phone calls and make communication more accessible. As Rachel states, phone calls in prison can be up to ten times more expensive than a standard call.
Strengthen investigative powers into government spending
Rachel spoke on the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Amendment (Follow the Money) Bill 2026, presented by the Liberal party. This bill would expand the powers of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) to investigate potential corruption from misuse of public funds.
Omnibus bill promises broad justice reforms
Rachel spoke on the government’s Justice Legislation Further Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2025. This bill extends the operation of the County Court Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court, improves the fines system in Victoria, and expands penalties for bestiality crimes.
South Eastern councils need state support for affordable housing
Rachel asked if the government would consider windfall gains tax exemptions for councils for the purpose of meeting community social and affordable housing needs.
Exploring medicinal cannabis for opioid use disorder
Preliminary evidence suggests that medicinal cannabis could be a beneficial treatment option for opioid use disorder. Rachel asked the Minister for Health if the government would support greater investment into medicinal cannabis research, including its potential as a treatment for opioid use disorder.
Entities Legislation Amendment Bill: Impact on Victoria’s mental health system
Rachel questioned the government on the Entities Legislation Amendment (Consolidation and Other Matters) Bill 2025.
She inquired about the consultation process regarding leadership teams of affected organisations and individuals with lived experience of mental illness and psychological distress.
Rachel also asked how the changes of the bill royal commission’s commitment to lived experience leadership, rights-based practice and independent oversight.
Government bill seeks to cut integral oversight bodies
Rachel made a contribution to the Entities Legislation Amendment (Consolidation and Other Matters) Bill 2025.
End prison strip searches
Rachel asked the Minister for Corrections to call for an end to strip searches in Victorian prisons. She also requested for data collection on strip searches to be expanded and published quarterly.
Rachel referred to a report co-authored by Human Rights Law Centre, Formerly Incarcerated Girls Justice Advocates Melbourne (FIGJAM) and Flat Out.
The report found that strip searches are often ineffective and that less invasive alternatives are available. It also noted the trauma of incarcerated children having to strip search in front of adult guards, and the compounding harms on disproportionately incarcerated First Nations people.
Crimes Amendment Bill 2026 enhances police powers to prosecute protestors
Rachel spoke on the Crimes Amendment Bill 2026, expressing why the bill will not be supported by Legalise Cannabis Victoria.
The amendment will make it easier for police to commence adult prosecutions for serious vilification offences, as police would no longer need consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This raises serious concerns around protest, as the government have been unable to answer as to which behaviours they are seeking to prosecute more readily.
Sustainable funding for Knox library
On behalf of a constituent in her electorate, Rachel called for sustainable funding for valuable local community service, Knox Library (Ngarrgoo).
Medical mandatory reporting responsiveness
On the back of harrowing reports of serious surgical misconduct at Melbourne Private Hospital, Rachel noted a disparity of care within the health system, among women and people who menstruate, Rachel asked the Minister what is being done to ensure that mandatory reporting obligations are taken seriously.
Expand IBAC powers to stamp out political corruption
Rachel intended to speak in support of a bill to expand the powers of the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC).
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