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Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll
Sex worker, fashion designer, anti-censorship activist, fierce campaigner, political lobbyist and Member of Parliament - Fiona Patten's life has been nothing if not eventful.
From her early days as an AIDS-HIV educator and activist and CEO of Australia's national adult goods and services lobby group, the Eros Association, Fiona has always fought hard for what she believed in. But all too often, she has come face to face with apathy and deeply-roooted conservatism. Frustrated and deeply disappointed by the lack of social change and progress around censorship, drug law reform, euthanasia and same-sex marriage, Fiona set up and registered the Australian Sex Party in 2009.
The Sex Party led with a strong focus on civil libertarian and personal freedom issues, and Fiona became the first Leader of a political party to call for a Royal Commission into child sex abuse in religious institutions. In 2014, Fiona contested and won an upper house seat representing the Northern Metropolitan Region in Victoria. As one of five crossbenchers, she currently holds the balance of power in Legislative Council.
Since her election, Fiona has successfully instigated landmark parliamentary inquiries and legislation, including Australia's largest public inquiry into drug law reform, voluntary assisted dying laws, the legalisation of ridesharing, safe access zones for abortion clinics and the introduction of a bill for a medically supervised injecting centre. In August 2017, the Australian Sex Party was dissolved to make way for Reason, a movement of radical common sense.
Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll is the entertaining and inspiring story of how one woman used her own radical common sense to speak truth to power and fight for change.
From her early days as an AIDS-HIV educator and activist and CEO of Australia's national adult goods and services lobby group, the Eros Association, Fiona has always fought hard for what she believed in. But all too often, she has come face to face with apathy and deeply-roooted conservatism. Frustrated and deeply disappointed by the lack of social change and progress around censorship, drug law reform, euthanasia and same-sex marriage, Fiona set up and registered the Australian Sex Party in 2009.
The Sex Party led with a strong focus on civil libertarian and personal freedom issues, and Fiona became the first Leader of a political party to call for a Royal Commission into child sex abuse in religious institutions. In 2014, Fiona contested and won an upper house seat representing the Northern Metropolitan Region in Victoria. As one of five crossbenchers, she currently holds the balance of power in Legislative Council.
Since her election, Fiona has successfully instigated landmark parliamentary inquiries and legislation, including Australia's largest public inquiry into drug law reform, voluntary assisted dying laws, the legalisation of ridesharing, safe access zones for abortion clinics and the introduction of a bill for a medically supervised injecting centre. In August 2017, the Australian Sex Party was dissolved to make way for Reason, a movement of radical common sense.
Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll is the entertaining and inspiring story of how one woman used her own radical common sense to speak truth to power and fight for change.
384 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2018
8 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 25, 2018
An honest, open and crazy-brave memoir by Fiona Patten. Hugely entertaining, informative and empowering. A great read.
December 27, 2018
Fiona is an interesting person and certainly intelligent, articulate, and compassionate. We need more politicians like her! I did get bogged down in the details of her life, which happens with most biographies - I mean most details of anyone’s life are usually tiresome after awhile. Her work in Parliament is what I found most interesting.
February 8, 2019
Great book and good insights of how this party came to be. Fiona, you have won me over👍
December 30, 2018
Disclaimer: I received this book as part of a media release. (But believe I would’ve attained/read it otherwise.)
Fiona Patten is an open book. Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll is fierce, entertaining, enlightening and one hell of a ride of a story. It’s comprehensive and detailed in describing the history of some of the political processes, and how her policies came to fruition—but also her unexpected journey to parliament.
A great read. Would recommend—especially to someone from the Australian Christian Lobby.
Fiona Patten is an open book. Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll is fierce, entertaining, enlightening and one hell of a ride of a story. It’s comprehensive and detailed in describing the history of some of the political processes, and how her policies came to fruition—but also her unexpected journey to parliament.
A great read. Would recommend—especially to someone from the Australian Christian Lobby.
August 18, 2019
Honest and interesting. Patten is very likeable and in my view an excellent MP. And I learnt more about censorship legislation than I ever knew before!
As others have mentioned there’s lots of details and lots of stories and although there were clear threads throughout the book, I found myself wanting more of a meta-narrative structure, though I acknowledge that wasn’t the intended style.
I’ll be interested to see what she does next.
As others have mentioned there’s lots of details and lots of stories and although there were clear threads throughout the book, I found myself wanting more of a meta-narrative structure, though I acknowledge that wasn’t the intended style.
I’ll be interested to see what she does next.
October 16, 2022
Loved this book, an easy addictive read that shows the true grit of this powerhouse woman. Very insightful as she delves into the inner workings of party politics, and the way religious nutters and social conservatives ((hello Inga Peulich) stifle progressive social policy (not to mention the sheer hypocrisy of some MPs). Fiona proves herself utterly brave, creative, and motivated to enact sensible change. We need more like her. Highly recommended reading.
July 7, 2019
Too long and boringly written. It takes a long time to get to her life in parliament, and reads like a CV. No modesty here. Her early years are interesting, but too detailed, and rest I had to force myself to read. Fiona credits herself with achieving every modern change from marijuana to abortion and Uber.
October 23, 2018
What a tremendous rollicking story. Behind the sex and affairs is the life of a dedicated reformer that was the instigator for many changes that have benefited Australians to become free thinkers and not just follow the major parties. This is a powerful story of a powerful woman that all genders should look to for inspiration.
December 24, 2018
Really interesting story of someone entering politics to actually do something and not just make up the numbers.
Definitely need people like Fiona to balance the nutters on the religious right.
Definitely need people like Fiona to balance the nutters on the religious right.
March 9, 2019
A good insight into someone who has had notable influence on state politics in Victoria in recent years. The information about Patten's history as a lobbyist was also interesting.
July 18, 2019
She's Fiona. You're welcome.
July 6, 2019
Politicians are rarely so candid about their private lives but thank goodness Fiona Patten is as this book is a breath of fresh political air!
Never a dull moment as every page is filled with the details and self reflections of her eventful and colourful life.
Written is a no nonsense style (seemingly - any other way wouldn’t be Fiona’s style I imagine), this autobiography left me with renewed energy to challenge what is in society and what could be if one dare so try.
Never a dull moment as every page is filled with the details and self reflections of her eventful and colourful life.
Written is a no nonsense style (seemingly - any other way wouldn’t be Fiona’s style I imagine), this autobiography left me with renewed energy to challenge what is in society and what could be if one dare so try.
August 21, 2019
What a life this woman has lived. She is very open and frank in her autobiography. Her formidable passion to help others, particularly sex workers, and others who need help. Nonce again ow that she is in the Victorian parliament elected to the Legislative Council she is keeping a close watch on what is going on and advocating for so many things for the common good. Her heart is in the right place. A good read.
April 13, 2019
The book is an interesting chronological guide to Fiona Patten’s journey from the sex industry to parliament. She has personally and professionally achieved and contributed. The main theme is the rule and role of hypocrisy in the relationship politics has with the sex industry. I wished for depth or philosophy around that, and felt disappointed. Guess it was the wrong book to ask that of.
March 3, 2019
A good read about a charismatic leader
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir. It gives a very good background of Fiona. It also gives a quite good timeline of how and why she ended up where she said.
It was well worth the money to buy! :D
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir. It gives a very good background of Fiona. It also gives a quite good timeline of how and why she ended up where she said.
It was well worth the money to buy! :D
December 23, 2019
Fantastic read! Highly recommend
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews