Deputy Premier slams Labor’s voluntary euthanasia laws in sensational split

EXCLUSIVE: DEPUTY Premier James Merlino has sensationally split from Premier Daniel Andrews, slamming Labor’s voluntary euthanasia laws as endorsing suicide and putting the vulnerable at risk.

Deputy Premier James Merlino has sensationally split from Premier Daniel Andrews by slamming Labor’s voluntary euthanasia laws. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

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DEPUTY Premier James Merlino has sensationally split from Premier Daniel Andrews, slamming Labor’s voluntary euthanasia laws as endorsing suicide and putting the vulnerable at risk.

Mr Merlino on Tuesday night told the Herald Sun he would vote against the government Bill.

“I have deep concerns that these laws put at risk some of our most vulnerable Victorians, who could be subjected to coercion,” he said.

“This Bill also endorses suicide, which is a line I don’t think our society should cross.”

His explosive personal view emerged from Herald Sun surveys of all 128 state MPs’ stances on the Bill. Of those MPs who have responded, 29 lean towards voting “yes”, including 10 Cabinet ministers, 13 MPs have indicated they would vote “no”, while 15 are undecided.

Premier Daniel Andrews said deputy premier James Merlino’s position against an assisted dying Bill was longstanding and well-known.

“My strong commitment to a respectful debate where people are able to vote their conscience. That is very important to me,” he said.

“This will be a respectful debate, if I have any control over it at all, it will be a debate that will focus on facts and people searching their conscience for the best outcome for those in their community.”

Mr Andrews would not say if Mr Merlino had told him he would be campaigning against the Bill.

“This is a longstanding position the Deputy Premier has held, he is entitled to that view, and as for his intention on this issue you would need to speak to him.”

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said he had not decided if he would support the assisted dying legislation.

He said he was erring towards supporting the legislation but needed to reflect on the ministerial advisory panel’s report into the Bill.

Both proponents and opponents of the scheme say it will be a “line ball” vote.

The remaining MPs had failed to respond by Tuesday night.

State MPs will be given a conscience vote on the Bill, and Mr Merlino’s passionate rejection of the law sets the scene for an emotion-charged parliamentary debate later this year.

Mr Andrews said on Tuesday Cabinet had adopted all recommendations from an advisory panel and the Bill would be introduced to parliament this year.

If passed, the law would enable terminally ill adult Victorians in pain to seek lethal medication when given less than a year to live.

Mr Andrews said the euthanasia law would be the “safest scheme in the world, with the most rigorous checks and balances”, in a bid to avoid any misuse of it, or coercion.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the euthanasia law will be the “safest scheme in the world”. Picture: AAP

Persons would have to be of sound mind, would have to repeat a euthanasia request three times, to two doctors, and would have to have a non-relative witness. There would be a 10-day cooling-off period.

Within Cabinet, the main opponents of the scheme are Mr Merlino, who is a Catholic aligned with the socially conservative Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, and Gaming Minister Marlene Kairouz.

Many other ministers fear the planned changes will open up a bruising social campaign on both sides of the debate.

James Merlino is one of the Cabinet’s main opponents of Labor’s euthanasia laws. Picture: Valeriu Campan

They want the issue voted on within five months, to avoid having the debate in an election year.

Mr Andrews said all 66 recommendations of an independent advisory panel were accepted by Cabinet, paving the way for a Bill to be drafted.

“Many Victorians are not getting the care they need, and by that I mean there are no solutions ... and they are taking matters into their own hands. That is an unacceptable thing. We need reform,” he said.

Attorney-General Martin Pakula and Health Minister Jill Hennessy were with Mr Andrews to endorse the plan.

Mr Pakula said he had previously voted against an assisted dying Bill, but new safeguards had allowed him to back the current plan.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said he was against assisted dying, and he had a “point of view that’s firm”. But he committed to allowing Coalition MPs a free vote, rather than having to follow a party position.

Greens MP Colleen Hartland said she welcomed the Bill, which was coming 10 years after she tried to get the law changed in parliament.

“What I’m expecting is a much better Bill. The government has really put good energy into it,” she said.

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