Should voters apply pressure on their politicians, so the majority of Australians can achieve their wish ... making V.E legal in Australia.



PM open to debate on legalising euthanasia


http://www.smh.com.au/national/pm-open-to-debate-on-legalising-euthanasia-20100919-15hxz.html


Julia Gillard has opened the way for a fresh debate on legalising euthanasia after the Greens leader, Bob Brown, nominated it as one of his top priorities.

While three state parliaments wrestle with euthanasia legislation, the Prime Minister and Senator Brown are expected to discuss the Greens' demand for the repeal of legislation preventing territory governments from legalising voluntary euthanasia.

The ban fractured party allegiances when it was narrowly passed in a conscience vote in 1997 as the Howard government overturned Northern Territory legislation making it the first place in the world to legalise euthanasia.

Senator Brown said the reversal of the legislation was his ''number one'' priority once Parliament had established new procedures giving rights to non-government business in Parliament.

A spokeswoman for Ms Gillard said the Prime Minister was ''happy to discuss Senator Brown's proposal'' in their regular meetings. The next meeting is expected in about a week.

''The Labor Party has previously allowed MPs to express their views on this issue with a conscience vote and if, as a result of these discussions, a conscience vote is called for, there is no reason why MPs would not be afforded this opportunity again,'' Ms Gillard's spokeswoman said.

The response to Senator Brown's call is the latest pointer to the way the minority government is having to accede to Greens demands.

Senator Brown said yesterday: "While this bill is about territory rights, a huge majority of Australians support voluntary euthanasia and it is time for federal Parliament to openly debate the issue."

The Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, said instead of euthanasia, the government needed to concentrate on other issues.

''I'm not denying the concerns that people have in this area but I think that we need a Parliament which focuses on bread and butter concerns,'' he said.

Asked if he would support a conscience vote on euthanasia, Mr Abbott said this was the normal procedure for such matters, but it would have to be discussed with the shadow cabinet.

The demand for action comes as the euthanasia activist, Philip Nitschke, fights officialdom over his bid to advertise the aims of his organisation, Exit International, on television and billboards.

The promotions had been made possible by a five-figure bequest from a wealthy supporter in Bombay who had sought advice from Exit International, Dr Nitschke said.

He said the timing of Senator Brown's intervention was ''propitious'' as three states, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, all had euthanasia bills before their parliaments.

But Jim Wallace, the head of the Australian Christian Lobby, decried the campaign of Dr Nitschke, whom he called ''Dr Death'' and the Greens as ''extreme radical deconstruction''.

He said that in the Netherlands, which allowed euthanasia, it had been estimated that 1200 people had been ''euthanised without their consent''.

Senator Brown said on Channel Ten yesterday polls had shown very strong support in both the ACT and Northern Territory for euthanasia.

A proposal put to the Senate in 2008 to repeal the Howard government's ban failed for lack of support. A Senate committee inquiry resulted in widely diverging views on legalising euthanasia.

In the Northern Territory, about nine out of 10 people want to get back their voluntary euthanasia laws, according to a newspaper survey. But NT Labor government MPs have been gagged from saying whether they would support the reintroduction of the laws even if the federal government restores the NT's power to legalise euthanasia.

90% of N.T support their right to the choice of V.E. Australia wide, its in the 80's.


In marginal seats, if the politician votes against the majority, it could be used against them at the next election.

In my electorate, Liberals hold on to this seat by less than 1% ... this issue could be the one to tip the seat back away from the dark side, next federal election.

Conscience vote just means the party gets out of the way ...so the will of the people can decide.

Time to start emailing your local politicians.


Democracy is not a thing that happens once every three years.