Euthanasia laws: Peter Simpson’s heartfelt plea to Palaszczuk Government
A Queensland union has launched a campaign urging the Government to bring euthanasia legislation before parliament before the state election, after a former chief battling cancer that has nearly killed him four times issued a heartfelt plea.
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FORMER ETU state secretary Peter Simpson has issued a heartfelt plea for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to consider legalising euthanasia, describing his own battle with stage 4 melanoma.
In an extraordinary move, the Queensland union has launched a campaign urging the Government to bring legislation before parliament before the October 31 election.
Mr Simpson said his cancer had nearly killed him four times over the last 37 months, saying this time he was running out of treatment options.
“I wouldn’t push the button today but when the pain starts getting to that stage it’d be a great option for people to die with dignity,” he said in a video posted to ETU’s Facebook.
“I’ve led my life with dignity, why the hell do I want to go out any other way? I want to go out on my terms.”
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The Courier-Mail last week revealed Health Committee Chair Aaron Harper was looking forward to the issue coming back before parliament, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk delayed any potential legislation, asking the Queensland Law Reform Commission to draft legislation for the government’s consideration by March 1, 2021.
Advocates have previously expressed concerns around the issue becoming an “election football” leading up to the October poll.
The ETU’s Facebook post has garnered thousands of views and hundreds of likes since being uploaded on Monday, including from Labor backbencher Shane King.
Mr Simpson said the pain that someone in a “worst case scenario” with cancer goes through was horrendous.
“When you get to the stage where you got no tools left in the toolbox, your body’s telling you what’s going on and you don’t want to put your family through anymore trauma, this is the only option as far as I’m concerned and I’d be pushing strongly for it,” he said.
“I think she (Premier) needs to consider this for legislation in Queensland.
“We’ve been a pretty progressive state, if Victoria can do it and West Australia do it, we should be there doing it.”
His wife Penny Tovey said her husband was the bravest man she’d ever met.
“My reality is that I’m going to watch my husband probably die in a lot of pain,” she said.
“His tumours are now in his bones, in his muscles and in his major organs.
“It’s not the right choice for everyone and it’s not going to make more people die if we change the laws, all it’s doing is just giving people the choice.”
A Government spokesman said the Premier had acknowledged this was a “very complex and deeply personal issue” and it was critical the government gets any change right.
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