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OBJECTIVE OF THE SOCIETY

To achieve legislation in Queensland so that, subject to appropriate safeguards, any person suffering severe pain or distress from a condition for which no remedy is available, is entitled to ask for and receive assistance to die peacefully and painlessly.

THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE

Despite great advances in medical knowledge, dying — which should be the natural and dignified end of a life — is far too often a prolonged, painful, and distressing process. Most people know of someone dear to them whose life has ended in this way and for whom death was a happy release.  It is not the fact of dying which worries people; it is the fear of being kept “alive” in such a pitiful condition that death would be infinitely preferable.

Voluntary euthanasia societies around the world aim to change this outcome. They seek legislative changes to enable those suffering severe physical or mental distress with no reasonable hope of relief to have, if they so wish, access to a medically assisted, quick, peaceful and dignified death. It is not death we fear so much as the manner of our dying. One thing all forms of life have in common is the certainty of death. It is natural to hope that, when the time comes, we will die peacefully and without prolonged suffering.

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BILLS BEFORE AUSTRALIAN STATE & FEDERAL PARLIAMENTS

Parliament of Victoria

Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill 2008

The Victorian Greens are putting their weight behind the Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill 2008, dubbed by its supporters “Dying with Dignity” legislation (Bill co-sponsors: Colleen Hartland, Member for Western Metropolitan; Hon. Ken Smith, Member for Bass).

The Bill had its Second Reading in the Legislative Council on 11 June — see

PAD Bill - 2nd Reading Speech (PDF Format, 145KB), and:

PAD Bill Introduced into Legislative Council 28th May 2008 (PDF Format, 165KB)

The Bill provides for an adult who is suffering intolerably from a terminal or advanced incurable illness to seek a prescription for a drug to die peacefully.

The Bill was created with the assistance of Dying with Dignity Victoria, formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Victoria.

Read Briefing Paper (PDF Format, 51KB)

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Parliament of South Australia

Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2007

A BILL FOR:

An Act to provide for the administration of medical procedures to assist the death of a limited number of patients who are in the terminal phase of a terminal illness, who are suffering unbearable pain and who have expressed a desire for the procedures subject to appropriate safeguards; and for other purposes.

Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2007 (PDF Format, 206KB).

Parliament of Australia

Greens Leader Bob Brown has written to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd seeking a conscience vote on voluntary euthanasia legislation, Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill 2008, which Senator Brown will introduce in the Senate. The Northern Territory legislation was never repealed.  It was over-ridden by the Howard Government’s “Euthanasia Laws Bill”. Click here to see the Territory’s legislation (PDF Format, 18KB): ROTI ACT (PDF Format, 143KB)

“My bill will restore the legitimacy of the Northern Territory legislation allowing voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill patients after rigorous conditions have been applied. The bill will effectively support the Australian Capital Territory to legislate for voluntary euthanasia as well,” Senator Brown said.
See Bob Brown's Second Reading speech (PDF Format, 83KB): SECOND READING 2008 (PDF Format, 83KB).

The matter has been reffered to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for a report back to the Senate. For more information, go to: Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

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Updated: 31st August 2008

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