Host
Fiona Patten


Fiona Patten
- Host
Fiona Patten is a former independent Australian politician. She has campaigned on harm reduction policies for over 30 years and ran the Australian adult industry association (Eros) for 20 years. While in parliament Fiona initiated and delivered reforms including voluntary assisted dying, abortion law reform, the decriminalisation of sex work and drug law reform. Since leaving parliament she has continued to work on social reform issues including criminal justice reform, regulating adult use of cannabis, access to medicinal cannabis, drug harm reduction including for tobacco, and a greater separation of church and state. She currently sits on a variety of health and justice boards. Fiona is passionate about tobacco harm reduction and constantly disappointed with her own country’s approach to it. She was the recipient of the 2025 Michael Russell award. Her autobiography is called -‘Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll’. She is the owner of a registered wildlife sanctuary.
Guest
Paddy Costall


Paddy Costall
- Guest
Since graduating with a degree in Politics and Government in 1978, Paddy has worked in a number of aspects of public health and social care, including alcohol and drug services, the probation service and public health advocacy. In addition to these he has worked in event management, including directing five editions of the International Harm Reduction conference. Since 2012 he has been mainly involved in the development and promotion of Tobacco Harm Reduction, including directing the Global Forum on Nicotine. Paddy is currently a Director of GFN Ltd.

