Euthanasia vote could be close

WELLINGTON: Parliament’s vote on legalising euthanasia appears to be on a knifeedge as an emotional electionyear debate begins.

Act New Zealand leader David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill was pulled from the private members’ ballot yesterday, and could be before Parliament before the election.

If passed into law, it would give terminally ill people with six months to live, or people with a ‘‘grievous and irremediable’’ condition, the choice to ask a doctor to help end their life.

Mr Seymour has been surveying MPs for two years, and said he was confident his Bill had the numbers to pass into law.

‘‘I think we will easily pass this legislation,’’ he said. ‘‘Its time has come.’’

But a straw poll shows the vote could be close.

A total of 31 MPs said they would support the Bill to a select committee, while 29 said they would not. Another 27 were undecided, and the rest did not

say or did not respond.

Mr Seymour needs 61 votes for a majority.

Among the highprofile opponents is Prime Minister Bill English, a practising Catholic who has long opposed assisted dying.

Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett was undecided, but said she was not definitely opposed.

One of the strongest voices against the Bill was Deputy

Speaker and National MP Chester Borrows.

‘‘We have a horrific record on suicide and I think it sends a message that sometimes it is OK to top yourself,’’ he said.

Labour leader Andrew Little has previously said he would support legalisation if it had appropriate safeguards.

A majority of Labour MPs supported the Bill, including deputy leader Jacinda Ardern.

The Green Party has a formal policy of legalising euthanasia for terminal patients.

Health spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter said Mr Seymour’s Bill went further, and her caucus would need to discuss it before deciding its vote.

New Zealand First’s policy is to hold referendums on conscience issues, and it is likely to oppose the Bill unless Parliament agrees.

Maori Party coleader Marama Fox said she could not support a law change.

‘‘I’ve sat holding the hands of dying people over and over again . . . so I have a good understanding of this and I’ve never once heard one of those people tell me they want to go early.’’

The campaign against the proposed law change looks set to be led by the Care Alliance, a lobby group whose members include the Salvation Army.

Care Alliance secretary Matthew Jansen said yesterday he looked forward to exposing the flaws in the Bill.

‘‘One thing we know from public polling is the more people learn about euthanasia, the less they like it. It is a death on demand Bill.’’

Mr Seymour acknowledged public fears about the issue, and said he had addressed many of them through a series of safeguards, including approval from two doctors, one of them independent from the patient.

‘‘This is morally, democratically and legally the right thing for Parliament to do,’’ he said.

A Parliamentary committee is separately considering a petition to legalise euthanasia, after the death of Wellington lawyer Lecretia Seales, who unsuccessfully sought a High Court ruling that would have allowed her doctor to help her die without criminal prosecution.

Ms Seales’ husband Matt Vickers said yesterday she would be ‘‘over the moon’’ that Parliament was now debating the issue. — NZME