Victoria’s assisted dying Bill passes key upper house vote
FORMER Prime Minister Tony Abbott has expressed his disappointment at a controversial “death Bill” that has passed in Victoria.
FORMER Prime Minister Tony Abbott has expressed his “shock” over the news that the state of Victoria is set to become the first Australian state to legalise voluntary euthanasia after a historic vote in parliament.
The law will make it legal for doctors to assist in the death of the terminally ill.
In what is no doubt a controversial decision, the bill passed Victoria’s Upper House with 22 votes to 18.
But speaking to 2GB’s Ben Fordham this afternoon, Mr Abbott, who was speaking by his father’s bedside in a NSW hospital after a “serious stroke” on Monday morning, said “people who are gravely ill should have their pain relieved, not their lives ended”.
“I very much regret the fact the same-sex marriage debate has very much distracted us from this bid to legalise a doctor assisted dying.
“People’s lives have to be respected and this idea that we should end the lives of people who have failed our test of usefulness or have failed our test of what constitutes a decent quality of life is absoutely dead wrong and I hope that a future Victorian Parliament might reverse this.
“Doctors should be healers, they should never be required to be killers.”
Let's remember what we are debating here: the most conservative voluntary assisted dying model that has ever been proposed – let alone implemented – anywhere in the world.
— Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) November 22, 2017
This legislation is safe. Its purpose is clear. Its time has come. #springst
The Bill, which passed after a marathon 28-hour sitting, will return for a final vote to the Lower House in its amended form. The Bill was debated in its entirety for approximately 100 hours.
MPs were seen weeping in emotional scenes, hugging and consoling colleagues after intense competition from conservative opposition.
The voluntary euthanasia scheme would be open to the terminally ill who are expected to die with six months, or within a year for those with neurodegenerative diseases.
Emotional scenes as VAD passes. #7NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/lK4d5z3UsU
— Brendan Donohoe (@BrendanDonohoe7) November 22, 2017
Victoria’s euthanasia bill passed through the Upper House with amendments pic.twitter.com/pOLroeR6rO
— Danielle (@daniellebonica) November 22, 2017
So within 18 months, voluntary euthanasia likely to be happening in Victoria #springst
— Matt Johnston (@Media_Matt) November 22, 2017
Wow. Euthanasia passes in Victoria. Gay marriage by Christmas. A new Australia.
— Pia Akerman (@pia_akerman) November 22, 2017
Affirming euthanasia is "always wrong," #PopeFrancis says, "We can and must always care for the living, without ourselves shortening their life, but also without futilely resisting their death. "
— Cindy Wooden (@Cindy_Wooden) November 16, 2017