Gympie MP Tony Perrett ‘unchanged’ in opposing voluntary assisted dying bill

The bill has been touted as a big step towards legislating for the practice of assisted dying in Queensland, with a parliamentary conscience vote to take place in September.

Tony Perrett has spoken out against voluntary assisted dying once again after a bill was introduced to Queensland Parliament this week by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Gympie MP Tony Perrett has stood firm in his opposition to voluntary assisted dying, after a bill was introduced to Queensland parliament by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this week.

The Shadow Agriculture Minister was a vocal detractor of a possible bill, and of VAD in general, in the lead-up to last year’s state election.

Member for Gympie Tony Perrett. Picture: Shane Zahner

“I support better resourced palliative care like Little Haven. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars trying to save lives from COVID,” Mr Perrett told The Gympie Times last year.

“The Labor Party now says it wants to terminate lives. I do not support VAD.”

A VAD bill was tabled in parliament by Ms Palaszczuk this week, as protesters of the proposed legislation gathered outside.

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The bill has been touted as a big step towards legislating for the practice of assisted dying in Queensland, with a parliamentary conscience vote to take place in September.

“The path to this day has been long and considered, and paved with reverence and respect,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Pics Tara Croser.

“Many Queenslanders who have watched a loved one suffer feel passionately that there must be dignified options available to everyone.

“(The bill) provides a chain of safeguards to ensure only those at the end of life can make these choices, and then only those capable of making that choice for themselves.”

Mr Perrett said he hadn’t been swayed in his hard-line opposition to assisted dying since his pre-election comments.

“(My opinion) hasn’t changed since my comments to The Gympie Times prior to the state election last year, I publicly committed to that when I was questioned at the candidates forum,” Mr Perrett said.

“It is unchanged as it was then.”

MP Tony Perrett with wife Michele Perrett

Ms Palaszczuk said voluntary assisted dying was not a substitute for palliative care, which Mr Perrett previously pointed to as his preferred alternative.

The Premier said there were strict eligibility criteria, and highlighted that if passed, the scheme would protect vulnerable people from coercion.

To be eligible under the draft Queensland law, a person must have been diagnosed with a disease, illness or medical condition that is advanced, progressive and expected to cause death within 12 months.

Mr Perrett said he wasn’t concerned with the specifics.

“I didn’t know what was going to be in it, to be honest. Obviously the government sent it away to the law reform commission,” he said.

“I didn’t try to anticipate anything that may or may not have been in it, I made my decision very clear prior to the election.”

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