Vic euthanasia bill faces hostile upper house

Daniel Andrews is blindsided as two key MPs pull support for euthanasia laws after warnings by Paul Keating and Tony Abbott.

Victorian Liberal frontbencher Georgie Crozier. Picture: Josie Hayden

The Andrews government has been blindsided in its bid to secure parliamentary backing for the Victorian assisted-­suicide package, with at least two key state MPs yesterday unexpectedly withdrawing their support for the euthanasia bill following pointed warnings from Paul Keating and Tony Abbott.

Some Legislative Council MPs have started deserting the package just days after lower house colleagues rammed the measures through parliament, provoking a wave of outrage and concern about the national implications.

The Australian has established that solid support for the euthanasia bill of about 23 votes to 17 a fortnight ago has been cut by about three votes, making it ­increasingly challenging for the government to secure its assisted-dying agenda.

Mr Keating’s intervention in the debate has sparked intense debate in Labor circles, but so far only three — and maybe four — Labor MPs are voting against the bill in the 40-seat chamber.

State Liberal frontbencher Georgie Crozier confirmed yesterday she would oppose the bill after having previously been counted in the “yes” column.

“I’ve got huge concerns with the bill and won’t be supporting it,’’ she told The Australian.

“I wanted to look at the bill and understand the bill and now I’ve got great concerns, particularly with the way the government has handled the process with the proposed amendments to improve the bill.”

Ms Crozier was initially open-minded about the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017, which passed through the lower house on Friday and goes before the Legislative Council next week. She even welcomed its release earlier this year.

The former nurse and midwife has since spoken with many doctors, nurses and other health professionals “who believe the bill to be deeply flawed”, she said.

“I’m hoping that my colleagues are really considering this bill,” Ms Crozier said. “It’s the most important vote that I will cast in this parliament; maybe my entire parliamentary career.”

Ms Crozier’s defection is ­significant because it will place ­intense pressure on her wavering Coalition MPs. Labor will need to get a clear majority to get its agenda through.

Another potentially doubtful pro-euthanasia vote is independent James Purcell, who has told The Australian he will return to his electorate to examine whether he will maintain his support.

“While I support voluntary ­assisted dying, I have promised my electorate to consult further if my vote is likely to make a difference,’’ he said.

Nationals MP Luke O’Sullivan had previously kept an open mind but said yesterday: “I’ll be a no”.

Number crunchers estimate support is split 20-20.

Upper house president Bruce Atkinson is looming as the kingmaker in any deal, along with two other conservative MPs.

On current voting intentions, Labor will need to secure Mr ­Atkinson’s vote to ensure the package passes through both houses, and while he is considered a progressive MP his vote has not been locked in.

The pro-euthanasia group is factoring in at least two Liberal MPs supporting the reform, but acknowledges it will need a third to gain a 21-vote majority.

Labor also faces the potential embarrassment of having to rely on the vote of backbencher Khalil Eideh, who is facing an anti-­corruption commission investigation over allegations money from his office’s official printing budget was siphoned off and used to fund ALP memberships.

As president, MrAtkinson does not have a casting vote; instead, he has a normal deliberative vote, meaning for the conscience vote to pass, it will need to be 21 to 19 votes or, for example, 20 votes to 19 votes with one abstention.

MPs on both sides of the debate accept the numbers have tightened dramatically; it was initially assumed that the bill would pass the lower house as it did but that there would be few problems ensuring it passed the upper house.

Former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott on Friday urged MPs to abandon the bill, saying the legislation was a “turning point” in how society viewed doctors, ­patients and the terminally ill.

Thursday week looms as a possible D-Day for the legislation, with the chamber sitting next week. “It’s as tight as a drum,’’ a number-cruncher said. “There is a lot of pressure being applied and there are scenarios where the bill will be defeated, amended or even get up. It’s incredibly tight.’’

Doctors will ramp up their ­lobbying efforts this week, with former AMA Victoria president Stephen Parnis confirming every upper house MP would be contacted, regardless of where they stand.

Dr Parnis, an emergency ­doctor at St Vincent’s Health, said politicians would be urged to put reason ahead of emotion and consider the complexities of the ­proposed law.

“I would not want to assume that anyone has a fixed position on this,” he said. “The mantra on this to date has been that the laws proposed are the most ‘conservative in the world’ and ‘there’s iron-clad safeguards’. Well, it’s time for the blowtorch to be applied to those assertions.

“Supporters have been using sanitised language … and shying away from the reality that this is state-sanctioned assisted suicide. I’m not seeking to exaggerate this, but this decision will have an impact on millions of Victorians for decades to come.”