THE Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) bill is expected to be passed imminently in NSW. VAD is already legislated in five other states and is already in operation in Victoria and Western Australia. Tasmania will commence on 23 October 2022, South Australia in early 2023 and Queensland on 1 January 2023.
New South Wales is the last state in Australia to consider legislation to allow voluntary assisted dying.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, MP for Ku-ring-gai, Mr Alister Henskens is one of 25 Members of Parliament who have spoken against the bill.
“People with serious terminal medical conditions, by definition, are vulnerable,” he said. “When a vulnerable person is tricked, coerced or misled into signing a contract, there are various legal mechanisms to overturn or change the contract. However, as with capital punishment, euthanasia is not like signing a contract. Errors with euthanasia process are irreversible, so the process has to be robust.”
Mr Alex Greenwich, Member for Sydney, stated that there has been over 12 months of consultation with experts, stakeholders and parliamentarians.
“We were able to introduce a bill which I believe to be the strongest in Australia in terms of safeguards and robust process,” he stated on the day he introduced the bill to parliament.
On Monday 22nd November locals and Dying with Dignity advocates rallied outside Mr Henskens electoral office in Wahroonga with a feeling that Mr Henskens is not representing the constituents of Ku-ring-gai. Independent polling has shown 75% of constituents of Ku-ring-gai support VAD.
Tina Brown, Publisher of the HK Post, was part of that rally like many in support of this bill.
“When I started this newspaper, my Aunt was diagnosed with Motor neurone disease (MND). My first edition was dedicated to my Aunty Valerie and I was pleased that she lived to see it, but she didn’t last much longer and her deterioration even with palliative care were unbefitting to a woman who had led a strong and wonderful life.”
Amanda Green, a constituent of Ku-ring-gai, was present at the rally on Monday morning with her two dogs.
“I fully support that people should have a choice, but it’s a myth to think that palliative care stops everyone’s pain and suffering. It wasn’t my experience with my mother,” she said. “You’d never let your pet go through the pain and suffering that my mother went through in the terminal stages of bone cancer. Had she been given a choice to end her life with dignity, she would have taken that choice.”
Penny Hackett, President of Dying with Dignity NSW, expressed similar concerns.
“Every day that NSW Parliament does not pass this important law reform, is another day that terminally-ill people will have to experience extreme and unnecessary suffering at the end of their life,” she said.
All MPs are being allowed a conscience vote.