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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
