Public meeting on euthanasia laws to be held at Rockhampton Leagues Club

The meeting will be held at the Rockhampton Leagues Club on Tuesday, July 13.

Health Committe Chair Aaron Harper. Photo: File

The Health and Environment Committee will hold a public meeting about proposed euthanasia laws at the Rockhampton Leagues Club on Tuesday.

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper is chair of the Health Committee.

“I feel incredibly privileged to be part of the committee examining this bill,” Mr Harper said.

“This legislation is about giving people choice and we want to make sure that we have it right.

“For many people this bill will be the most important work this parliament does.

“I’m urging everyone, regardless of their views, to be respectful.”

Mr Harper said this week’s committee hearings were about examining the draft bill prepared by the Queensland Law Reform Commission.

“As a committee we’ve done extensive consultation about voluntary assisted dying throughout Queensland,” he said.

“We know this is a deeply personal issue for many people which is why we have continually engaged with as many people as we can.

“These proposed laws are not about politics, they are not about religion, but they are about people.”

“As chair of the previous health committee we conducted 41 public hearings across the state and received nearly 5000 submissions on the issues of aged care, end-of-life and palliative care, and voluntary assisted dying.

“This was also the first time the government has formally sought Queenslanders’ views on voluntary assisted dying.”

Mr Harper said this report was tabled in March last year and that the current bill was the result of that work.

The committee hearing in Rockhampton will be held on Tuesday, July 13 at Rockhampton Leagues Club from 1pm to 4pm.

The meeting meant to be in Yeppoon on the same day has been cancelled.