EUTHANASIA HAS MARR’S SUPPORT
THE LNP candidate hoping to unseat Labor’s Aaron Harper in the seat of Thuringowa has flagged crossing the floor on euthanasia reform.
LNP candidate Natalie Marr revealed, during an election debate moderated by Sky News anchor and former Townsville Bulletin editor Peter Gleeson yesterday, that she had watched “someone very close” to her die a “very long painful death” and understood the emotion and trauma involved.
Ms Marr said she would exercise the conscience vote the LNP is affording its MPS on the divisive issue should she be elected, and would vote the way the majority of the electorate wanted her to.
Labor’s Aaron Harper, who holds the seat of Thuringowa with a margin of 4.1 per cent, chaired the parliamentary committee that recommended legislation be introduced and has been a vocal supporter of legalising voluntary assisted dying.
The mammoth inquiry received more than 5000 submissions, with the committee holding about 54 hearings across the state. The state government in May delayed introducing any possible euthanasia legislation until after the upcoming October election, ordering the Queensland Law Reform Commission to draft legislation for the government’s consideration by March 1, 2021.
Katter’s Australian Party and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation have signalled their opposition to euthanasia. KAP’S Thuringowa candidate Julianne Wood reiterated her party’s position at the debate.
United Australia Party’s Thuringowa candidate Michael Turner said he was opposed to euthanasia.
The debate also delved into the issues of Queensland’s coronavirus response and the Townsville community’s continuous struggle with the impact of crime.
As Ms Marr argued the LNP would deal with the pandemic “compassionately” and based on the health advice, Mr Harper interjected saying the LNP had called for the borders to be opened 64 times.
“Well Aaron you’ve done nothing about crime for 1826 days,” Ms Marr said.
TOWNSVILLE’S business community will be able to grill the more than two dozen candidates running in the four electorates of the immediate city at a breakfast event hosted by the chamber of commerce.
The Townsville Chamber of Commerce will host candidates standing in the seats of Townsville, Thuringowa, Mundingburra and Hinchinbrook on Tuesday, October 20, at a function to be held at The Ville.