Rachel Payne MP has spoken on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and Other Matters) Bill 2026, welcoming key reforms while arguing the bill falls short of the whole-of-system change victim-survivors need.
Rachel Payne MP has introduced the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Amendment (Function) Bill 2026 to Parliament, a bill aimed at restoring IBAC’s independence and discretion to properly investigate allegations of police misconduct in Victoria. (TRIGGER WARNING: This article references sexual assault, police violence and family…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rachel asked if the government would redirect resources from criminalisation of small amounts of cannabis to addressing serious violent crime.
Rachel inquired on the proposed absorption of the Victim of Crime Commissioner position by the Victorian government.
