Callide MP lashes voluntary assisted dying bill, saying focus should lie with suicide prevention

Callide MP Colin Boyce has revealed his stance on the upcoming vote to legalise voluntary assisted dying in Queensland.

Member for Callide Colin Boyce will vote against the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill when it is debated by Queensland’s Parliament in September. File Photo.

Callide MP Colin Boyce has revealed his stance on the upcoming vote to legalise voluntary assisted dying in Queensland for the first time since the bill was introduced in May.

Supporting the AMA’s position for the preservation of life, Mr Boyce said he’ll be taking a stand against the divisive bill when it’s debated by Queensland’s parliament later this year.

“I will not be supporting the Bill and will speak against it when the time comes,” Mr Boyce said.

“Every day in Australia seven men and two women commit suicide. Rural men are five times more likely to commit suicide than their metropolitan counterparts.

“Not enough is being done to address this growing problem yet here we are proposing legal voluntary suicide.

“If I may quote Venerable Fulton J Sheen: ‘Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right.’”

The proposed law to allow voluntary assisted dying is expected to be debated by Queensland’s parliament in September 2021.

Both Labor and LNP MPs will exercise a conscience vote, which is expected to be a week-long debate.

Nanango MP Deb Frecklington has said she will be consulting with her community before announcing her position.

If passed, voluntary assisted dying will be available to terminally ill Queenslanders as early as 2023.