Deputy Premier says Labor’s death Bill is risky and bad legislation

DEPUTY Premier James Merlino has stepped up his opposition to Labor’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, claiming his colleagues do not have a mandate to make such a drastic societal change.

Labor’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill has been criticised by Deputy Premier James Merlino.

DEPUTY Premier James Merlino has stepped up his opposition to Labor’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, claiming his colleagues do not have a mandate to make such a drastic societal change.

BILL PROPOSES FIVE YEARS JAIL FOR COAXING TERMINALLY ILL TO END THEIR LIFE

ASSISTED DYING BILL IN SIGHT OF VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT

Mr Merlino said the issue was not part of an election campaign and the person “on the street” would be surprised to learn euthanasia laws will be introduced to parliament next week.

Mr Merlino said the “risky and bad legislation” amounted to a pro-suicide Bill and has lobbied his colleagues to vote against it.

“I think this has come along without a lot of public awareness.

“I think it needs a longer, deeper engagement with all areas of our society. “

Deputy Premier James Merlino. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

He is at odds with Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Jill Hennessy — who will introduce the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill to state parliament next week.

All MPs will have a conscience vote, which could be cast before the end of the year.

The vote is expected to be tight with a large number of undeclared MPs holding the balance in both chambers.

Mr Merlino said the proponents of assisted dying refused to use language like “suicide and euthanasia.”

“Yet that is what this is,’’ Mr Merlino said today.

“This is a pro-suicide Bill that is what we are debating next week.”

Premier Daniel Andrews with Health Minister Jill Hennessy. Picture: AAP

The laws would apply only to terminally ill adult patients of sound mind who have made a request of doctors on three separate occasions.

The Premier has said the laws would be the most conservative in the world, with the most amount of safeguards.

Minister for Health Jill Hennessy said: “There are few pieces of legislation seen by any parliament in recent memory that have had the level of consultation and community engagement that the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill has seen.

“The community has engaged with the formal structures, they’ve engaged on social media, online, on the airwaves and in our newspaper comment sections. They have made it clear that they support this legislation and that they want the parliament to vote on this. Our framework contains 68 safeguards, it is compassionate and safe and Victorians overwhelmingly support it.

“For every day Members of Parliament refuse to deal with these issues, it is another day Victorians are dying in lonely and violent circumstances as the Coroner has already outlined — taking their own lives.”

But Mr Merlino said the fact the Bill needed 68 safeguards showed how risky the legislation was.

“Proponents of this Bill talk about the 68 safeguards to the legislation, that should not be a source of comfort to these people.

“How risky is this legislation that it needs 68 safeguards, how bad is this legislation that it requires that level of protection.”

Victorian Council of Churches Bishop Peter Danaher said the Bill interfered with the process of life. Picture: Peter Ristevski

He said there was no way to legislate to stop elderly and vulnerable people being coerced or feeling like a burden on their family.

Today, Mr Merlino accepted a statement from leaders of six faiths who reject the legislation.

The multifaith statement, signed by leaders of the Islamic, Jewish, Sikih, Hindu and Christian faiths, said they believe “deliberate interventions to end life tear at the fabric of our society”.

Hindu Council of Australia Victoria chairman Makarand Bhagwat said the Hindu faith taught that because they did not choose to live, they could not choose to die.

Victorian Council of Churches Bishop Peter Danaher said the Bill interfered with the process of life.