New poll shows support in marginal seats for voluntary euthanasia

AN EXPLOSIVE new poll shows strong support for voluntary euthanasia laws in key marginal state seats, with the results set to ignite debate.

AN EXPLOSIVE poll showing more than four in five voters in key state seats support voluntary euthanasia is set to ignite debate over new laws.

CONSERVATIVE VOICES UNITE IN FORUM AGAINST VICTORIA’S PROPOSED VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA LAWS

The poll, taken in Melbourne’s politically volatile southeast, also shows MPs would gain electoral support if they back assisted-dying laws when they’re put to State Parliament this year.

The findings will be used as ammunition by supporters of the Andrews Government’s euthanasia model, which would allow terminally ill adult Victorians in pain to ask doctors for life-ending medication up to 12 months before their expected deaths.

State MPs will have a conscience vote — meaning they won’t be bound by party policy — later this year to decide whether the controversial scheme is established.

Voluntary euthanasia advocate Andrew Denton.

Marginal seat MPs, who will be critical to the success or failure of the radical changes, have been warned by anti-euthanasia activists they could lose their seats if they vote “yes”.

But the survey of 1000 eligible voters across the seats of Bentleigh, Mordialloc, Carrum and Frankston, shows 86 per cent of people in the swinging seats support allowing doctors to prescribe lethal doses to terminally ill patients.

The Omnipoll study was commissioned by Go Gentle Australia — a group media personality Andrew Denton helped establish.

Go Gentle’s campaign director Paul Price said “the overwhelming support for choice at end of life is now clearer than ever”.

Mr Price said the reforms proposed were “the most conservative in the world” and had dozens of safeguards to ensure people suffering could only make the choice if they had weeks or months to live.

The pollsters asked whether people would be more or less likely to vote for their local MP if he or she supported voluntary euthanasia laws.

While 40 per cent said it wouldn’t affect their vote, 51 per cent said they would be more likely to vote for the MP and just 6 per cent said they would be less likely.

Under the government plan, two doctors would have to independently sign off on a patient of sound mind’s request, which would have to be made three times over 10 days.

State MPs will have a conscience vote later this year to decide whether the controversial voluntary euthanasia scheme is established.

POLL QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES

If a terminally ill patient asks a doctor for a lethal dose, should a doctor be allowed to provide a lethal dose, or not?

Yes: 86 per cent

No: 9 per cent

Don’t know: 5 per cent

Victorian Parliament is considering new laws that would make it legal for a doctor to assist a terminally ill patient to end their life. Would you say that you were …

Very familiar: 23 per cent

Just heard of it but not very familiar: 49 per cent

Did not know about it before today: 28 per cent

Would you say that the issue of voluntary euthanasia or assisted dying is very important, fairly important, or not important on how you personally would vote in a state election?

Very important: 37 per cent

Fairly important: 43 per cent

Not important: 18 per cent

Don’t know: 2 per cent

If your local member were to support the legislation to legalise voluntary euthanasia or assisted dying would that influence the way you would vote for local member at next State election?

More likely to vote for them: 51 per cent

Less likely to vote for them: 6 per cent

No difference: 40 per cent

Don’t know: 3 per cent

If your local member were to oppose the legislation to legalise voluntary euthanasia or assisted dying how would that influence the way you would vote for local member?

More likely to vote for them: 5 per cent

Less likely to vote for them: 53 per cent

No difference: 38 per cent

Don’t know: 3 per cent

Sample: 1000 eligible voters in Bentleigh, Mordialloc, Carrum and Frankston

Source: Omnipoll

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