Poll strongly backs bill on euthanasia

A recent poll shows strong support in the Rangitata electorate for a bill regulating euthanasia.

As ACT MP David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill was amended on Wednesday night to include a binding referendum on whether it should come into force, Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon has revealed a poll he had taken earlier this year showed two-thirds of those surveyed in the electorate were in favour.

Falloon said a referendum will give all New Zealanders the opportunity to decide on whether to give people with a terminal illness the option of requesting assisted dying.

‘‘As a MP I do not believe it is my right to dictate to others the choices they make at the end of their life.’’

The poll, which Curia conducted for Falloon, surveyed 500 people and showed 69 per cent were in favour of the Bill, with 19 per cent against and 11 per cent undecided. The poll asked: ‘‘Do you support a legal path of euthanasia for people with terminal illnesses who are likely to die within 12 months?’’. The poll preceded a decision to go for a six-month limit.

Those in the 18-29 age bracket were most in favour (83 per cent), and those over 60 were least in favour (59 per cent).

‘‘The result of the poll is pretty consistent with the two public meetings I’ve had in Timaru and Ashburton and the broader feedback I’ve been getting from emails and other correspondence,’’ Falloon said.

He said there were a number of crucial changes to the Bill that allowed its passage through Parliament.

‘‘Parliament has shown that it is closely divided on the subject of euthanasia, so I voted in favour of having a referendum to give New Zealanders the final say over whether or not it should be law.’’