Victorian euthanasia laws: Public opinion urged by Heath Minister

VICTORIAN MPs have been told they should consult their communities about voluntary euthanasia before the issue is considered by State Parliament.

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VICTORIAN MPs should consult their communities about voluntary euthanasia before the issue is brought before State Parliament, Health Minister Jill Hennessy says.

The Andrews Government will on Thursday reveal its plan to establish an expert panel to advise it on physician-assisted dying laws, based on a parliamentary committee’s recommendation. It is likely that laws will be drafted next year based on that advice, and taken to parliament.

The conservative Right to Life group has vowed to fight tooth and nail to destroy any push for voluntary euthanasia laws, saying it could swing an election result.

VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA LAWS TO GO BEFORE VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT

The conservative Right to Life group has vowed to fight tooth and nail to destroy any push for voluntary euthanasia laws. Picture: Supplied

Ms Hennessy, who has led the charge on changing the law within the government, said that MPs should use a range of factors to weigh up their vote on the matter.

“People need to look very hard at the policy issues and think about what their own beliefs are, but I also think it is important that people pay some heed to community views,” she said.

She pointed to the US state of Colorado where 47 per cent of people voted for Hillary Clinton but 67 per cent voted for dying with dignity law reform to highlight that political affiliations do not always marry with euthanasia views.

But the president of Right to Life Australia, Margaret Tighe, said the group will “leave no stone unturned” to defeat the Andrews’ government push.

“A small but committed number of voters who care about human life will actually vote on this issue,” she said.