Liberal MLC Jane Howlett says parliament should be focused on COVID-19 measures, not voluntary assisted dying legislation
A Liberal MLC says now is not the right time to be debating voluntary assisted dying legislation in parliament, labelling it “all about suicide”.
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IT IS the wrong time to consider voluntary assisted dying in Tasmania and the proposed legislation amounts to a form of suicide, a Liberal Legislative Council member has argued.
During second reading speeches on the Bill introduced by Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney, Prosser MLC Jane Howlett questioned whether it was appropriate to debate the topic during the coronavirus pandemic.
“In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, there are higher priorities that we as a parliament should be dealing with,’’ she said.
“We need to protect life, not find ways to bring it to an early end.”
Ms Howlett said she would not be voting for the Bill in its current form and suggested the bill was “all about suicide”.
“Why do we need to rush it and push it through right now?” she said.
But newly-elected Labor MLC and long-time general practitioner Bastian Seidel disagreed.
“I know we live in difficult times, I know we live under a declared public health emergency,’’ he said.
“Without disrespect to the government’s agenda, but if we can debate cat management in these times, surely we can debate, in private members’ time, end of life choices for patients who suffer from a terminal illness.”
Dr Seidel spoke at length about his experience as a GP treating dying patients, while praising the state’s palliative care system.
He said prolonging death was not the same as extending life.
Hobart MLC Rob Valentine said the Bill had serious implications, and that legislators were “attempting to regulate a space that is not regulated”.
Tania Rattray, the member for McIntyre, said she would support the Bill into the committee stage but said it was important there was appropriate safeguards in the “sensitive and life-changing” legislation.
MLCs will further debate and suggest amendments to the Bill in coming weeks.
If the legislation passes the Upper House, it will face a conscience vote in the House of Assembly.
Previous attempts at similar legislation in 2009, 2013 and 2017 were foiled after they failed to pass through the House of Assembly.
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