Euthanasia Victoria: Premier Daniel Andrews emotional plea
PREMIER Daniel Andrews recounted his father’s death from cancer as he urged MPs to support his government’s bill. VOTING UPDATES.
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PREMIER Daniel Andrews has given an emotion-charged plea for state MPs to back voluntary euthanasia laws as he recounted the final days of his father’s life.
Mr Andrews said it was only after his dad Bob slipped away from life with palliative care after battling cancer that he realised how horrific death for terminally ill people could be.
“The stillness took hold and this giant unbreakable man slipped away,” Mr Andrews said.
“Until you have seen someone you live succumb to ... what some people say is a good death, that you start to think about what would be a bad death,” he said.
Watched by his wife Catherine, who wiped away tears in the public gallery, Mr Andrews said the government scheme would be the most conservative model of assisted dying in the world.
“This legislation is safe, its purpose is clear, its time has come,” he said.
As revealed today by the Herald Sun, Deputy Premier James Merlino wants to halt the bill until more work is done on the medication to be delivered under the scheme, and safeguards for elderly Victorians.
HOW THEY’RE VOTING
YES: Daniel Andrews (Labor), Martin Pakula (Labor), Sam Hibbins (Greens), Gabrielle Williams (Labor), Roma Britnell (Liberal), Brian Paynter (Liberal), Martin Foley (Labor), Frank McGuire (Labor), Tim Pallas (Labor), Robin Scott (Labor) — 10
NO: Robert Clark (Liberal), James Merlino (Labor), Murray Thompson (Liberal), Peter Walsh (National), Marlene Kairouz (Labor), Neil Angus (Liberal), Graham Watt (Liberal) — 7
UNDECIDED: Emma Kealy (Nationals) — 1
Mr Merlino directly contradicted Mr Andrews over the bill’s safeguards.
“We are not the most conservative model,” he said.
The social conservative MP said the proposal was dangerous and could encourage suicide.
“This is the line that parliament is considering crossing — state-sanctioned suicide,” he said.
He also moved a reasoned amendment, as revealed today by the Herald Sun, to put the Bill on hold while concerns were addressed about inadequate safeguards and coercion.
It will be considered at the end of debate on the Bill
Mr Andrews said he would vote against his deputy’s proposed changes because it could have unintended consequences and there was “no need” for changes.
Mr Andrews said safeguards in the scheme, and the rigorous work done by former Australian Medical Association president Professor Brian Owler, meant it was the best possible package.
“For those who are perfectly entitled to move amendments, even if those amendments were to pass many of them — perhaps all of them — would still vote against the bill,” he said.
Earlier, Nationals MP Emma Kealy was first to speak to the bill, which would allow terminally ill patients with a year or less to live to apply for lethal medication.
Ms Kealy raised concerns with the bill, as well as positives that would come from the change.
“I do reserve my position due to the high number of people who are still contacting my office,” she said.
Liberal MP Robert Clark railed against the change, saying it would lead to more pressure on people to take their own lives.
“Most of the safeguards are illusory,” he said.
“There’s no restriction on doctor shopping. Once the lethal drugs are dispensed, the patient is on their own.”
Greens MP Sam Hibbins said he hoped parliament would support the bill because “people with terminal illnesses are suffering terribly at the end of their lives”.
“It is important that parliament supports this bill so that others don’t have to suffer needlessly,” he said.
“To give them the chance to die with dignity. To give them the choice to die with dignity.”
Australian Medical Association president Professor Brian Owler said “there is nothing the panel didn’t consider” when advising the government on the proposed laws.
MUKESH HAIKERWAL: Most vulnerable exposed by assisted dying laws
The Herald Sun understands other amendments likely to be put forward this week include cutting the time frame available for access to the scheme.
The proposed laws would enable terminally ill people to apply for lethal medication up to a year before their expected death.
However, at least one MP is likely to proposed it be curtailed to six months.
If amendments are put to the Legislative Assembly, they will be voted for as a matter of conscience, Mr Andrews said.
As the Herald Sun revealed, Mr Merlino will seek to put proposed voluntary euthanasia laws on indefinite hold because of concerns about lethal drug types and patient safeguards.
In an extraordinary intervention against a scheme backed by the premier, Mr Merlino will argue assisted dying plans are being rushed through the Legislative Assembly and could result in “perverse outcomes”.
More: Merlino says Labor’s death Bill bad legislation
Bill includes safeguards to prevent encouraging euthanasia
Mr Merlino will tell state parliament there are “uncertainties about the substances to be used”, and a “lack of adequate protections against family violence, elder abuse and prejudice against people with disabilities”.
His bid to halt the Bill until concerns are addressed would be voted on after the laws are debated in the Legislative Assembly.
If the laws are passed, terminally ill Victorians would be able to get access to lethal medication up to a year before their expected deaths — if approved by two doctors.
Tough coercion penalties would be put in place, and the lethal drugs would only be dispensed to people of sound mind who kept them in a locked box.
Mr Merlino’s reasoned amendment is one of several likely to be put forward this week, with the government planning on extending sitting hours to try to allow everyone to have a say.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy described the plan as “the most conservative and safe model in the world, and it is compassionate”.
She said there was overwhelming support in the community for the laws which were the result of years of parliamentary work and input by leading doctors and palliative care, legal, disability and clinical experts.
There are 87 MPs in the Legislative Assembly, and 40 have told the Herald Sun they will vote yes.
Cabinet colleague Marlene Kairouz also hit out at the plan, and said she was “uncomfortable with any Bill that encourages people to view suicide as a compelling option”.
But Go Gentle founder Andrew Denton said the terminally ill were committing suicide, and the plan would allow people to end their lives “at a time of your choosing”.
Liberal South West Coast MP Roma Britnell, a former nurse, has voiced her support for the voluntary assisted dying Bill.
She said she would vote for the laws in memory of the patients she nursed who she could not keep comfortable in death.
“So many people were frozen in their bereavement because of the fear they have of dying. This will allow people to put that fear aside and really live their final weeks with their loved ones.”
In a moving speech Liberal MP Brian Paynter said his discussions with a palliative care nurse with terminal cancer had revealed the flaws in the system.
Over a series of conversations, Mr Paynter saw the six foot tall nurse waste away to only 40kg. Mr Paynter said he had assured the man he would vote for the Bill so people like him could have a choice when death was so close.
Albert Park Labor MP Martin Foley said he supported the Bill after hearing countless stories of those taking their own life when they could not handle the pain associated with the terminal illness.
Forest Hill Liberal MP Neil Angus said he would not support the Bill as it would encourage people to commit suicide. He said that mental health were not considered in the Bill was one of just many deficiencies in the legislation.
Labor Broadmeadows MP Frank McGuire, who had not declared his hand until the debate declared he would vote for the legislation. He said he believed palliative care options should be explained to those seeking voluntary assisted dying, but the laws would allow greater choices to those at the end of their life.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said he would support the legislation as to deny it would mean those at the end of their life would suffer beyond what they can endure.
Burwood Liberal MP Graham Watt said the Bill allowed the state to issue “suicide permits”. He said by passing the Bill the state was saying to those who were desperate, alone and vulnerable that it agreed their life was hopeless and should be ended.
Preston Labor MP Robin Scott said it was watching a friend’s “distressing, panicked and bewildering decline” which swayed him to support the Bill.
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