By Mark Bowling
OXLEY Catholic John Simpson didn’t mind braving Brisbane’s early morning chill to protest the government’s push for euthanasia laws.
“I think we have to stand up for the people,” Mr Simpson, 74, said.
He was one of dozens waving pro-life placards outside the Queensland Parliamentary buildings as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk prepared to introduce a bill to legalise euthanasia, today.
“Heavens, slippery slope all right. Where does it go from here?
“By prayer and gathering, maybe it will do some good.
“I’m still fit and healthy but I know a lot of people my age aren’t fit and healthy and do think ‘it’s getting tough, and now they’ll help us die’ – so they could take that option.”
After being formerly introduced into parliament, Queensland’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill has now been referred to the Health and Safety Committee for a 12-week consultation.
It will give each state MP a chance to thoroughly read the bill, consider its myriad implications and hear from constituents on the life-or-death issue.
Under the bill, patients must have either a disease, illness or medical condition that is advanced, progressive and will cause death.
Their condition must be expected to cause their death within 12 months and it must be causing suffering that is “intolerable”.
The Catholic Church has joined many medical professionals who say authorities should be doing all they can to protect Queenslanders rather than assist them in dying.
“The State Government talks about providing ‘choices’ for Queenslanders but the truth is that very few regional, rural and remote Queenslanders have a choice because of the dire underfunding and lack of availability of palliative care,” Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge said in a statement.
The Australian Medical Association Queensland and Palliative Care Queensland have called for a major boost in state funding for end of life care.
The state government will invest almost $150 million a year in palliative care over four years, but both groups say that’s well short of the $272 million needed annually to deliver adequate care.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk personally supports the proposed VAD laws, but has promised all 52 Labor MPs in the 93-seat parliament the right to a conscience vote on the matter.
Cherish Life Queensland executive director Teeshan Johnson said the bill would not pass if the premier granted government MPs a truly free vote.
“If it’s a real conscience vote, it won’t go through, that’s really what it comes down to,” Ms Johnson said, standing amongst protesters outside parliament.
Liberal National Party MPs will also be allowed a conscience vote on the proposed legislation.
The Greens and independent MP Sandy Bolton support it, while One Nation MP Stephen Andrew is still considering the issue.
The three Katter’s Australian Party MPs will oppose the bill and joined protesters to offer their support.
“The problem is are people educated on what the impacts of this are?” KAP leader Robbie Katter said.
“Because as a five-second proposition – do you think people should have the rights and freedoms to take their own life? Yeah, okay – but do you realise what the implications of this are down the road if this is not regulated properly?”
KAP Member for Hill Shane Knuth encouraged Queenslander’s opposed to euthanasia to let their views be known to their local MPs.
“We have a great chance of swinging this in the other direction, so that we get this bill thrown out, and ensuring that people can access proper palliative care,” Mr Knuth said.
“Keep up the good fight, let’s get this message out right across Queensland.”
From North Queensland, Munganbana Norman Miller, also spoke out as convenor of the Voice of First Nations Peoples Against Euthanasia.
“For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, our connection to a spiritually defined country or land is vital,” Mr Miller said.
“So, to die in a hospital in Cairns or elsewhere, a long way away from our country, kin and community is a tragedy.
“That’s why we need better palliative care in our communities.
“We do not want a lonely death in a strange place where we cannot practice our customs.
“… add to this the expectation that we should choose to die early in assisted suicide or VAD, so that we are no longer a burden, is disgraceful.”
