Euthanasia support building

Euthanasia support building

Legislative changes to euthanasia laws in NSW have gained significant parliamentary support after Greens MP Cate Faehrmann’s bill was co-sponsored by three members of the Legislative Assembly.

Independent MPs Alex Greenwich and Greg Piper, as well as Greens MP Jamie Parker, have announced that they will sponsor the bill in the parliament’s Lower House, after it was confirmed members of the Upper House will debate the bill in May.

Ms Faehrmann’s Rights of the Terminally Ill bill would give people with a terminal illness who are conscious and of sound mind, but unable to be alleviated from their pain and suffering, the right to request of their doctor to be given assistance to die.

A spokesperson for the New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell said: “In the event legislation on euthanasia is presented to Parliament, Liberal Party MPs and MLCs will be given a conscience vote as occurred in 1996 when the issue was last considered.”

Labor Party MPs will hold a conscience vote in this circumstance.

Sydney MP Mr Greenwich, said that now is the perfect time to attempt reform to current euthanasia laws, as there is strong political cooperation and a declared conscience vote on the issue from both the major parties.

“I think it’s an issue that has to be handled in a nonpartisan and non-political way. We’re making that clear throughout the process,” he said.

“Often private members’ bills are introduced by crossbenchers, not by party members and that’s the situation we have. But that doesn’t discourage me at all because I know there are a lot of people in both major parties that are interested in the bill and in the issue.”

The most recent Newspoll data shows approximately 85 per cent of people in NSW support the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia, and these numbers are consistent with research completed on a national scale.

However Paul Russell, the director of HOPE – an advocacy group that opposes reform to legalise euthanasia – said these figures are often misleading.

“The current figures come from what is usually only a one to two question poll, and they’re not nuanced in any significant way,” he said.

Mr Russell said euthanasia legislation is fraught with risk and legitimate safeguards are difficult to establish.

“These bills tend to expand and there is a tendency to abuse the safeguards that are there. There’s a progression, an incremental extension if you like, from the basic framework from which any of these laws begin,” he said.

Richard Mills, President of Dying with Dignity NSW, has been holding community forums with Ms Faehrmann in Sydney and various regional centres to discuss euthanasia legislation. Mr Mills said support for the issue remains overwhelming among citizens.

“Cate’s playing to win, and what has encouraged me most is the Premier’s announcement that he’s now in favour of gay marriage,” he said.

“It’s the same as voluntary euthanasia – this issue is a vote winner for him [and] the people are on side.”

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