Kill Bill gets another tick

AN impassioned speech from Western Victoria MP Simon Ramsay (pictured) has signalled the passing of a major hurdle for the voluntary euthanasia Bill, albeit with amendments.

The Coalition MP gave his qualified support to the draft laws yesterday, helping it clear a major hurdle in the Upper House, where Mr Ramsay and a handful of MPs have held the fate of the Bill in their hands.

“My contribution today on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 will be the most difficult speech I will make in this place in my seven years as a member of Parliament,” Mr Ramsay said.

“I support the principle of the purpose of the Bill to give voluntary access to medication causing death for adults with decision-making capacity who are expected to die from an ad- vanced, progressive and incurable illness that is causing intolerable suffering.

“Having said that, the Bill needs greater safeguards for those who may be victims of abuse, particularly elder abuse, rather than purely beneficiaries of painless death.”

Mr Ramsay, who described his decision as an “emotional rollercoaster”, foreshadowed that he would seek amendments to strengthen the Bill and provide safeguards to those seeking to use it. “I cannot deny the right of those who seek these choices, but I will ensure as best as I can that Victoria and regional Victoria have equity in palliative care, that the framework is not abused or compromised and that those seeking the right to choose their own finality, and who meet the criteria, do so of their own free will, without the threat of coercion or abuse,” Mr Ramsay said.

“I will support the second reading vote, not as a tick-off to the Bill but to allow the Legislative Council to do what it does best: use the committee stage to drill into the clauses, debate the merits of potential amendments and be satisfied that at the end of the final third reading vote we have done everything possible to provide the Victorian community with legislation that gives them a framework for a better quality of life when facing the trauma of terminal illness.”