Full discussion: Neil and Fiona Patten on drugs, Guy and that Brunswick cafe

Australia’s drug policies should resemble Portugal’s, where all drugs are legal and focus is on treatment not punishment, according to one Melbourne politician.

Fiona Patten, Australian Sex Party leader, joined Neil to discuss a number of topics on the show this morning.

Decriminalising drugs

Patten has just returned from an overseas trip where, travelling with Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Rick Nugent, the politician focused on foreign countries approach to drugs.

Patten said Australia could learn from Portugal’s policies.

“It is not illegal to possess or use anything, (in Portugal) ice, heroin, anything.

“Their focus goes into treatment.

“The police, everyone, was saying it has far better outcomes than sending you through the court system.”

Matthew Guy’s lunch with an alleged mafia man.

“I think it’s probably poor form, he talks about taking this high moral ground all the time and this probably wasn’t his best decision,” Patten said.

She also questioned Guy’s claim the meeting had nothing to do with Liberal Party donations.

Brunswick Café altering prices to favour women

Neil and Fiona chatted about a city café charging men more for coffee to counter the gender pay gap.

“The café is trying to make a point,” Patten said.

“I think it’s kind of cute.”

“If it’s wrong to discriminate against a woman then it’s wrong to discriminate against a man,” Neil said.

“I agree with you there,” Patten agreed.

Raising tobacco sales

“We want it high enough to reduce the number of people using tobacco but we don’t want it too high that it becomes attractive to crime gangs,” Patten said.

“So maybe we’ve made cigarettes too expensive?” Neil asked.

“I think so,” she said.

Click PLAY above to hear the full discussion