Fiona Patten has described the Legalise Cannabis party's federal election performance as groundwork for future success, despite narrowly falling short of securing a historic senate seat.
Nearly a month after polling day, Patten's bid for a place in Canberra was finally extinguished when the completed preference distribution handed Labor the sixth and final Victorian senate seat.
"It was close and we were in the count to the end but pipped at the post by Labor who historically won a third senate seat," Patten said. "I'm disappointed but we gave it a good shot.
"We had the 5th highest senate vote in Victoria behind Labor, Liberal, Greens and One Nation and given our very, very modest campaign budget it was an impressive result and the best the party has done to date."
Patten said the voter support the party attracted showed how far it had come as a political force, and that the result pointed toward a stronger showing at the next federal election in three years. She did, however, rule out standing as a candidate again.
"The ALP was happy to preference us at number 2 on their Victorian senate how to vote card and that indicates a real change in attitude to cannabis," she said. "It has certainly paved a path to a senate win at the next federal election, but that won't be me. I'm very glad – after some nudging – that I put my hand up for this campaign but it's time for someone else take the party to the senate."
Patten added that it was more important than ever to keep the cannabis conversation going and to “maintain our momentum”.
