Revealed: the deeply personal story of why a Gold Coast MP is fighting for death with dignity
Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon has for the first time revealed the shocking impact of the loss of her father to cancer, speaking up for reforms on voluntary assisted dying. SEE WHICH CANDIDATES SUPPORT THE CAUSE
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GAVEN MP Meaghan Scanlon has revealed publicly for the first time the sad impact of the loss of her father to cancer, speaking up for reforms on voluntary assisted dying.
In a Facebook post, the Gold Coast’s only Labor MP has shared a photograph of herself as a teenager with her father and former policeman Phil, suffering from treatment, along with her mother Margaret and brother Callum.
The issue will be debated when candidates appear today at a Bulletin forum, which will be livestreamed on this website at 12pm.
“Voluntary Assisted Dying is a deeply personal issue for me. So many Queenslanders have experienced the incredible pain of watching someone they love suffer and endure those last days and weeks,” Ms Scanlon said.
“I’m no different. I lost my Dad to cancer when in early high school.
“His battle with melanoma was long and taxing from diagnosis, radiation, chemotherapy, drug trials, surgery, losing function of one side of his face and the relapse process back and forth.
“When you watch someone you love go through that, it can’t help but frame your understanding and empathy for those who die in pain.
“I appreciate that people hold deeply personally opinions on this topic. But this discussion needs to be respectful. Because ultimately, this is about respect. Respect for people’s views and respect for people’s lives.”
If re-elected, the Palaszczuk Government will introduce Voluntary Assisted Dying laws in February and fund a new $171 million palliative care plan.
“I’ve heard from so many Gold Coast families whose loved ones are suffering. Who am I to deny them of that relief?” Ms Scanlon said.
“Who am I to say that their body isn’t theirs to control. For too long, this issue has been put in the too-hard basket.
“That’s not the type of politics I practise. I want you to know that I support reform and will be voting for these changes if re-elected.”
On the Gold Coast, 24 candidates across all parties announced support for the new laws and one – Tabita Wilkinson from One Nation at Coomera – was opposed. Several were undecided.
The My Life My Choice coalition has released a survey of the almost 600 candidates standing statewide in the poll to help voters determine if their next MP will help support VAD law reform.
Under the My Life My Choice banner, the Clem Jones Group, Dying With Dignity Queensland and Doctors for Assisted Dying Choice are promoting the reforms.
Clem Jones Trust chair David Muir said the survey attempted to test the views on VAD law reform of 597 candidates across 93 seats.
A last-minute rush of nominations meant a lot of candidates had not responded to the survey or could not be contacted, he said.
Of the 597 candidates, 164 were assessed as being VAD supporters or qualified supporters, 37 were unclear or uncommitted, 13 opposed VAD law reform and 383 did not respond.
“Voters can use our survey as a starting point for making their own investigations about their local candidates and their views on VAD,” Mr Muir said.
“While some candidates may not respond to a survey like ours, they find it much harder not to respond to local voters.”
The information was split into supporters, qualified supporters, unclear/uncommitted or opponents.
If a candidate was marked unknown, it meant they did not respond to the My Life My Choice survey.
BONNEY
- Sam O’Connor, LNP – UNKNOWN
- Amin Javanmard, Greens – SUPPORTER
- Ash Borg, Labor – UNKNOWN
- David Bark, United Australia Party – UNKNOWN
- Leana Marquet, Independent – SUPPORTER
- Michael Rix, One Nation – UNKNOWN
BROADWATER
- David Crisafulli, LNP – UNDECIDED
- Natalie O’Donnell, Informed Medical Options Party – UNKNOWN
- Maureen Simpson, Labor – UNKNOWN
- Jesse Schneider, One Nation – UNKNOWN
- Mara Krischker, United Australia Party – UNKNOWN
BURLEIGH
- Michael Hart, LNP – SUPPORTER
- Rachel Mebberson, Greens – SUPPORTER
- Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, Labor – SUPPORTER
- Scott Wallace, Animal Justice Party – SUPPORTER
- Carlo Filingeri, United Australia Party – UNKNOWN
- Georgie Batty, One Nation – UNKNOWN
- Ingrid Weber, Legalise Cannabis Qld – UNKNOWN
COOMERA
- Michael Crandon, LNP – UNDECIDED
- Chris Johnson, Labor – SUPPORTER
- Lissy Gavranich, Greens – UNKNOWN
- Heath Gallagher, United Australia Party – SUPPORTER
- Darryl Prout, Animal Justice Party – UNKNOWN
- Tabita Wilkinson, One Nation – OPPOSED
- She D’Montford, Informed Medical Options Party – UNKNOWN
- Kris Bourbon, Independent – UNDECIDED
CURRUMBIN
- Laura Gerber, LNP – UNKNOWN
- Kaylee Campradt, Labor – SUPPORTER
- Peter Burgoyne, Greens – SUPPORTER
- Glen Wadsworth, One Nation – SUPPORTER
- Anna Palmer, United Australia Party – UNKNOWN
- Dr Richard Stuckey, Independent – SUPPORTER
- Ian Logan, Independent – UNKNOWN
- Tracy Takacs-Thorne, Independent – UNKNOWN
GAVEN
- Meaghan Scanlon, Labor – SUPPORTER
- Kirsten Jackson, LNP – UNKNOWN
- Sharon Sewell, One Nation – UNKNOWN
- Sally Spain, Greens – SUPPORTER
- Suzette Luyken, Legalise Cannabis Qld– SUPPORTER
- Gary Beck, United Australia Party – SUPPORTER
- Reyna Drake, Civil Liberties & Motorists Party – UNKNOWN
MERMAID BEACH
- Ray Stevens, LNP – UNKNOWN
- Stephen James, One Nation – UNKNOWN
- Deb Lynch, Legalise Cannabis Qld – SUPPORTER
- Dr Carl Ungerer, Labor – SUPPORTER
- Zai Harris, Greens – UNKNOWN
- Rhett Holt, Independent – UNKNOWN
- Hristo Avdjiev, United Australia Party – UNKNOWN
- Nicholas McArthur-Williams, Independent – QUALIFIED SUPPORTER
- Suphakan Somsriruen, Civil Liberties & Motorists Party – SUPPORTER
- Tory Jones, Independent – SUPPORTER
MUDGEERABA
- Ros Bates, LNP – UNKNOWN
- Scott Turner, Greens – UNKNOWN
- Brandon McMahon, United Australia Party – UNKNOWN
- Andrew Liddell, One Nation – UNKNOWN
- Mark Pytellek, Civil Liberties & Motorists Party – UNKNOWN
- Gary Pead, Independent – UNKNOWN
- Leith Erikson, Independent – UNKNOWN
- Bill Sherwood, Independent – UNKNOWN
- Maxim Otten-Kamp, Labor – UNKNOWN
- Lindon Cox, Animal Justice Party – UNKNOWN
SOUTHPORT
- Rob Molhoek, LNP – UNDECIDED
- Susie Gallagher, Labor – SUPPORTER
- Raphael Felix, One Nation – SUPPORTER
- Brett Lambert, Independent – SUPPORTER
- Nelson Quinn, Greens – UNKNOWN
- Jack Drake, Civil Liberties & Motorists Party – UNKNOWN
- Maria Avdjieva, United Australia Party – UNKNOWN
SURFERS PARADISE
- John-Paul Langbroek, LNP – UNKNOWN
- Nelson Quinn, Greens – UNKNOWN
- Roger McKay, United Australia Party – UNKNOWN
- Leanne Schultz, One Nation – UNKNOWN
- Brianna Bailey, Labor – UNKNOWN
THEODORE
- Mark Boothman, LNP – UNKNOWN
- Tracey Bell, Labor – SUPPORTER
- John Woodlock, Greens – UNKNOWN
- Robert Marks, United Australia Party – UNKNOWN
- Anita Holland, One Nation – UNKNOWN
- Gale Oxenford, Independent – UNKNOWN
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