Mackay MP shares her stance on voluntary assisted dying

Julieanne Gilbert will launch a survey calling for the community’s feedback on the issue.

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert has stated her support for voluntary assisted dying legislation as she prepares to launch a survey to gauge the community's stance on the contentious issue.

Mrs Gilbert said she believed, on a personal level, there was a need for VAD legislation to give people with terminal illness a choice over whether to end their lives.

"After talking to young people who are looking at a really horrific end to their life, I do believe there needs to be that choice," she said.

Queensland MPs are set to vote on euthanasia legislation this year, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made it a key election pledge.

The Mackay MP said her online survey, to be launched in the coming days, would help shape her decision on the vote.

"I would like to hear from people about their wishes, views, and what their concerns are," Mrs Gilbert said.

"VAD is a very topical issue in our community and it has been very topical for a number of years.

"Since I have been elected in 2015, this has been an issue that people have contacted me through my office wanting to talk about.

"I would like to hear from the community to give everybody an opportunity to have a say on how they feel about VAD and also what they are expecting to see in the legislation.

Mrs Gilbert said any legislation should be "very tight" to protect vulnerable people from being coerced into decisions.

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Queensland MPs are set to vote on voluntary assisted dying legislation later this year.

 

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Dying with Dignity Queensland president Jos Hall said the Mackay MP should be "commended" for taking this step to launch a survey.

"The surveys we have done show consistently over all of Queensland there is close to 80 per cent support (for VAD)," Ms Hall said.

"I would be more than happy if every MP did a survey in their own electorate to confirm that is true in their area."

But Cherish Life executive director Teeshan Johnson said the group was disappointed over the government's consideration of any euthanasia legislation.

"It's also very disappointing that the government continues to ignore Queensland's glaring palliative care deficit, with only one-third of the palliative care specialists needed," Ms Johnson said.

"This gross neglect needs to be addressed urgently."

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Originally published as Mackay MP shares her stance on voluntary assisted dying