Current, ex-MPs unite to support 17th attempt to make voluntary euthanasia legal in SA

Today former political adversaries have united to back SA’s 17th chance to legalise euthanasia in 25 years – and this time, they say, is their best chance.

Unlikely political allies have delivered a united message that now is the time for state MPs to show courage and support the 17th attempt to legalise euthanasia in South Australia.

The collective call was made on the steps of Parliament House on Tuesday by seven of the nine former and current MPs who put forward 17 pieces of law reform 22 times over 25 years.

By their side was Lyn Such, the wife of late MP Bob Such, who died age 70 of a brain tumour in 2014 – one year after his 10th try to legalise voluntary assisted dying (VAD).

“Bob saw the suffering of people who were terminally ill and for whom palliative care was not working as it should and he knew then that there had to be a more compassionate way to die,” Mrs Such said.

The allies of past failed attempts said MPs have the opportunity to make history right when the VAD 2020 Bill – authored by Labor MPs Kyam Maher and Susan Close – is voted on next Wednesday in the Upper House.

Seven of the nine SA MPs who have put up 17 different euthanasia Bills, 22 times since 1995. Front: former Liberal MP Duncan McFetridge, Lyn Such (widow of MP Bob Such); back: Labor MP Susan Close, former Labor MP John Quirke, former Greens MLC Mark Parnell, former Democrats MLC Sandra Kanck, former Labor MP Steph Key, and Labor MLC Kyam Maher. Absent: Labor MP Anne Levy. Picture: Sarah Reed

They said that the past 18 months of the world’s most conservative VAD laws working well in Victoria, plus consecutive national polls with more than 80 per cent of community support, and a pro-euthanasia lobby that has grown in voice and numbers, were some of the reasons why hopes of success this time round were high.

Former Labor MP Steph Key’s message to MPs was clear: “It’s about time people got a bit courageous and actually listened to what the community is saying.”

Ms Key introduced three Bills on legalised euthanasia from 2010 to 2016.

If passed, the VAD 2020 Bill will be the first supported by a full chamber of parliament. It will then require the support of Lower House MPs to make SA the fourth state with VAD laws after Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania.

The closest VAD Bill to succeed was that by former Liberal MP Duncan McFetridge five years ago.

The Bill was defeated by the casting vote of conservative Labor MP and Speaker of the House Michael Atkinson after a third reading following debate that went until 4am.

Dr McFetridge said the VAD 2020 Bill was more comprehensive than his 2016 proposal and had extra safeguards, including that health professionals must not raise legalised euthanasia with their patients.

“This Bill, I hope, with the Victorian model that has shown to work well, will convince those that are wavering, those that are using their own personal morals, and ethics, and religious beliefs to … be persuaded to represent their constituents who overwhelming support this law reform,” he said.

The 2020 Bill includes 68 safeguards and is modelled on Victorian law. It proposes access to assisted dying for people living in SA for at least a year, who are aged 18 or more, and diagnosed with an incurable disease, illness or medical condition that is advanced, progressive and is expected to cause death within weeks or months and is causing suffering that cannot be relieved.