O’Connor has new focus on choice to die

TASMANIAN Greens leader Cassy O’Connor has vowed to reintroduce dying with dignity legislation if she is re-elected to Parliament at next year’s state election.

Her commitment comes after the Victorian Legislative Council paved the way for the imminent passing of its Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill on Wednesday and despite the Hodgman Government ruling out the introduction of a Government Bill.

“Euthanasia is a conscience issue in the Liberal Party, therefore there won’t be a government Bill on euthanasia but it is open to any member of the Parliament to bring forward a private members’ Bill,” a spokesman said.

Ms O’ Connor and former Labor premier Lara Giddings have introduced three Bills over the period since 2009, but all have been defeated.

The last, in May this year, was opposed by all Liberal Government members with the exception of Franklin MP Nic Street.

Ms O’ Connor said she hoped a new Tasmanian Parliament would follow Victor- ia’s compassionate and historic lead. “Polls have consistently showed 80-85 per cent public support for voluntary assisted dying legislation at a state and national level,” she said.

“The vast majority of Tasmanians want the choice to die with dignity, for themselves and their loved ones if palliative care can’t relieve our pain and suffering.

Ms Giddings said she hoped Tasmania’s politicians would draw courage to consider the issue in the wake of the Victorian experience.

She said the Tasmanian Voluntary assisted Dying Bill was similar to Victoria’s although there had been no time limit and some differences on eligibility.

“I would encourage the next Tasmanian Parliament to pass legislation that will give Tasmanians suffering intolerable pain the right to end their own life surrounded by the people they love, using the Victorian law as the basis of developing legislation for our state,” she said.

The Victorian legislation comes into effect in June 2019 after an 18-month implementation period.

It allows terminally ill patients of sound mind with a life expectancy of six months or less to end their lives.

The legislation has provisions to restrict the access of other Australians to Victoria’s voluntary euthanasia.

The Bill was amended during debate to require a person to have lived in the state for 12 months.

Victorian Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings said in debate that in public policy terms it was questionable whether it was appropriate that people travel to Victoria specifically for voluntary assisted dying.

“The Government accepted in light of concerns raised in this chamber that this amendment would be made to say that somebody had to live in Victoria for 12 months before they made their first request to be assessed on their circumstances,” he said.