The Vulva Lab

Rachel Payne isn't your standard politician. She left home at 16, worked as a burlesque performer under the name Freckles Blue, earned a Master of Public Policy, and helped found the Legalise Cannabis Party in Victoria, where she's now MP for the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region.

In this episode, Rachel talks about what it really takes to register a political party, why crossbenchers can get more done than you'd expect, and how to get the most out of your vote by looking beyond the major parties. She shares the story behind her push to decriminalise begging in Victoria, her abortion access report with Georgie Purcell, and where cannabis law currently stands, from medicinal access and drug-driving rules to the "gateway drug" argument.

We also take a detour into her burlesque days, including a memorable night in a Paris dungeon, and introduce our first ever Mental Load Jar, capturing the everyday thoughts women carry.

Timestamps

00:00 Acknowledgement of Country and introduction

01:30 Founding the Legalise Cannabis Party, from Nimbin to registration

04:01 Why Rachel went into politics

06:10 Making sense of the political system and your vote

10:08 How the crossbench works

11:04 Decriminalising begging and the link to coercive control

12:48 The abortion access report with Georgie Purcell

14:30 Compassion, human rights and evidence-based policy

16:56 Introducing the Mental Load Jar

18:16 Rachel's burlesque days

21:33 The Paris dungeon story

22:41 What's legal and what isn't with cannabis in Victoria

24:26 Medicinal cannabis and drug-driving laws

29:41 Access, cost and the imported product problem

34:17 What dispensaries look like overseas

36:30 Listener question: is cannabis a gateway drug?

38:15 Cannabis, opioids and Victoria's overdose rate

41:06 Putting public health above politics

42:13 Emptying the Mental Load Jar

44:03 Join Rachel for beach swims and Cranbourne walks

Links

- Follow The Vulva Lab on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevulvalab/

- Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelpayne_mp/

- Rachel Payne MP: https://rachelpayne.com.au

- Rachel's Parliament of Victoria profile: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/1802

- Access In Action: Abortion Care in Victoria (report with Georgie Purcell): https://www.georgiepurcell.com.au/reports

- Coroners Court overdose figures: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9364415/drug-overdose-crisis-as-deaths-double-road-fatalities/