Opinion: Voluntary assisted dying laws must be protected

I’ll never not vote Labor, but my hand would shake if I had to vote for a candidate who differed with me on this critical issue, writes Robert Schwarten.

Former Labor minister Robert Schwarten

A local bolt and steel business advertises that dementia is a No.1 killer, and a lubricant company says it will donate a dollar from every can of its product sold to research into this dignity-defying insidious condition. Such is the cause of community concern.

But no one seems to be aware that the right to die legislation – the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act – brought into this state by this Labor government demands a full review of the laws in the first months of next year, where stakeholders will be able to lobby to expand the scheme and include dementia.

A common misconception is that it is only people of my age – those entering the second stage of life’s race – who are concerned about dementia. But that belies the statistics, and the fact that the slow and certain unedifying end that accompanies dementia affects all related family members and friends. Young people as well as the not so young get a full view of how this disease robs rational thought and action and replaces them with a being that often bears no resemblance to the loved one.

Thankfully my state MP (Barry O’Rourke) agrees with my right to save myself from humiliation and those close to me from as much trauma and sorrow as the law will permit. I would never not vote Labor, but my hand would shake if I had to vote for a Labor MP who wants to lay down the law to me about my right to end my life under humane circumstances when I no longer have any chance of a worthwhile existence.

I see the pro-VAD Clem Jones Group is calling for candidates at this year’s state election to reveal their position on the issue. That is good. I am certain Opposition Leader David Crisafulli does not want it raised – as he opposes it, as does his would-be attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie.

Some of Mr Crisafulli’s team want the current law repealed, and if they get the majority they seem to be counting on they might do just that – so it will not be just dementia on the list.

I have never been a fan of so-called conscience votes, as I think all votes in Parliament require conscience and our party system allows for debate by individuals within and collectivism without, creating political stability.

But that’s what we have and I urge voters who, like me, demand the right to choose the timing to enter the exit ramp of life when it becomes a one-way lane of despair to question every candidate on their views on this and make up your own mind accordingly.

Robert Schwarten is a former Labor minister

Originally published as Opinion: Voluntary assisted dying laws must be protected