SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - FEBRUARY 2018

Authorised by the President of Dying with Dignity Inc, Margaret Sing, 7 Faraday St, West Tas 7000

IN THIS ISSUE: • SUMMARY • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY ELECTORATE – BASS, BRADDON, DENISON, FRANKLIN AND LYONS • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SOURCES OF INFORMATION, SURVEY AND OVERVIEW SUMMARY • The Tasmanian State election will be held on Saturday 3 March 2018. The Hare-Clark electoral system of multi-member electorates gives Tasmanian voters an excellent opportunity to vote for candidates who support voluntary assisted dying legislation. • Candidates most supportive: Based on the 24 May debate and the DwDTas survey of candidates, the following candidates have clearly indicated that they support voluntary assisted dying legislation in-principle AND are likely to vote for or have voted for a Bill similar to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2016: ➢ Bass: (Greens) – all, including sitting member Andrea Dawkins; (Lab) Michelle O’Byrne; Jennifer Houston: (Lib) Bridget Archer ➢ Braddon: (Greens) – all; (Lab) Danielle Kidd, Wayne Roberts ➢ Denison: (Greens) – all, including sitting member Cassy O’Connor; (Lab) , Tim Cox, and Zelinda Sherlock; (Lib) ➢ Franklin: (Greens) – all, including sitting member ; (Lab) Kathryn Barnsley, Alison Standen and David O’Byrne; (Lib) ➢ Lyons: (Greens) – all; (Lab) , Kylie Wright, Gerrard Gaffney (may be supportive of VAD Bill; mentioned Victorian law)

• Candidates who have said they are supportive in principle but have not (yet) made a commitment to vote for Bill similar to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2016: ➢ Bass – (Lab) Brian Roe (not likely at this time but mentioned Victorian law); Adam Gore; (Lib) (voted for the VAD Bill to go to an inquiry, and then against it and did not discuss in detail with DwDTas or proponents beforehand) ➢ Braddon - (Lib) (same as for Sarah Courtney)

• See additional information to make up your own mind about some other candidates. YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE PO Box 1022, Sandy Bay TAS 7006 0450 545 167 [email protected] www.dwdtas.org.au

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY ELECTORATE BASS 1. Support in-principle and likely to vote for a Bill similar to the Voluntary Assisted Bill 2016 • All Greens, including sitting member, Andrea Dawkins • Labor – Michelle O’Byrne (spoke strongly in favour), Jennifer Houston (expressed strong support) • Liberal – Bridget Archer

2. In-principle but not necessarily to a Bill similar to the VAD Bill 2016 • Labor – Brian Roe – responded to our survey as supporting in-principle but expressed concerns at this time; Adam Gore did not respond this time but at the last State election clearly indicated his support for voluntary assisted dying legislation • Liberal - Sarah Courtney – She stated in the debate on the VAD Bill: “I want it to be legal for an individual to choose the end of their life circumstance when their circumstances are filled with intolerable and unrelievable suffering due to advanced and incurable irreversible medical conditions.” She also advised the ACL of her in-principle support.

3. Others to consider? • Liberal – Simon Wood – did not respond to our survey but stated to the ACL: I don’t support free-rein euthanasia and am willing to examine cases based on individual circumstances.

4. Voted against the VAD Bill 2016 and/or stated to voluntary assisted dying legislation • Liberal - (ACL statement: I have not supported previous attempts, and I remain very concerned about the legalisation of euthanasia in Tasmania”); Michael Ferguson (strong opponent without any respect for us as supporters and advocates or it would seem for the democratic process, eg stated to ACL: “I do not support the killing of one human being by another” and “The euthanasia debate is a debate run every four years by those who refuse to accept the outcome of previous votes and are not honest in their language about what they are actually proposing: that is, assisted suicide and medical manslaughter”.)

BRADDON 1. Support in-principle and likely to vote for a Bill similar to the Voluntary Assisted Bill 2016 • All Greens • Labor – Danielle Kidd, Wayne Roberts • Liberal – None

2. In-principle but not necessarily to a Bill similar to the VAD Bill 2016 • Liberal - Roger Jaensch

3. Others to consider - Nil

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4. Voted against the VAD Bill 2016 and/or stated opposition to voluntary assisted dying legislation • Labor – (at least he showed evidence of having considered it carefully) • Liberal – ACL statement - I have not supported euthanasia legislation in 2009, 2013 or 2017, and my position will not change.; – ACL statement included: I don’t feel there can be adequate protections put in place to legislate this change … and would not support the same legislation in the future.; Joan Rylah - strong opponent ACL statement included: “My vote was and remains a NO vote” and the cruel pretence that palliative care is the answer; – ACL statement: “Oppose” .

DENISON 1. Support in-principle and likely to vote for a Bill similar to the Voluntary Assisted Bill 2016 • All Greens, including Cassy O’Connor, co-sponsor of the last Bill and a long-term strong supporter • Labor – Scott Bacon; Tim Cox; Ella Haddad and Zelinda Sherlock (all strong supporters) • Liberal – Sue Hickey

2. In-principle but not necessarily to a Bill similar to the VAD Bill 2016 – Nil

3. Others to consider • Liberal – Kristy Johnson – ACL statement - Euthanasia is a very emotional debate. My personal values will always be to seek to preserve life. I would have to view any legislation before I would consider changing something that goes beyond my value system. My concern is that once euthanasia is legalised, lobby groups would seek to expand the laws. I would not like to see have laws similar to European countries where you can voluntarily end your life due to alcoholism or depression. I believe we do much better in palliative care; pain relieving drugs are so advanced that all forms of pain can be addressed for those suffering. • SFF - Lorraine Bennett – ACL statement – On a personal level I don’t know how anyone can let a terminally ill person suffer unnecessarily. Having said that, should this be a government decision or a decision between drs and families? Our party will vote on this as our conscious [sic] dictates.

4. Voted against the VAD Bill 2016 and/or stated opposition to voluntary assisted dying legislation • Labor –

• Liberal – – As Speaker she did not speak or vote on the 2016 Bill but voted against the 2013 bill and stated to ACL that she is “opposed to legalising euthanasia”; Simon Behrakis – ACL statement – I would oppose further attempts to legalise euthanasia. A caring and compassionate society would support patients and ease their suffering during such difficult times.; Dean Young - ACL statement – “Oppose”.

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FRANKLIN 1. Support in-principle and likely to vote for a Bill similar to the Voluntary Assisted Bill 2016 • All Greens including sitting member, Rosalie Woodruff • Labor – Kathryn Barnsley, David O’Byrne, Alison Standen (strong supporters) • Liberal – Nic Street (strong supporter)

2. In-principle but not necessarily to a Bill similar to the VAD Bill 2016 - Nil

3. Others to consider • Liberal - Simon Duffy – stated in his response to DwDTas: I acknowledge and appreciate your passion for the dignity of people at the end of their lives. I have however had my reservations about legislation that has come before the parliament previously. Through personal experience with many long-term hospital visits myself and family members who have faced mental health challenges I remain concerned about unintended outcomes. At this point it is likely I would vote against legislation, but should I be elected and legislation one before the parliament I would value your input in making a decision on my conscience vote.

4. Voted against the VAD Bill 2016 and/or stated opposition to voluntary assisted dying legislation • Liberal – (says will consider legislation); ; Claire Chandler

LYONS 1. Support in-principle and likely to vote for a Bill similar to the Voluntary Assisted Bill 2016 • All Greens • Labor – Rebecca White; Kylie Wright • Liberal – Nil

2. In-principle but not necessarily to a Bill similar to the VAD Bill 2016 - Nil

3. Others to consider • (SFF) Wayne Turale – ACL statement - In theory a competent, lucid terminally ill person, suffering untreatable pain, should have the choice to determine the manner in which they spend their last hours. There would however must be stringent control over this process and also religious beliefs must be taken into account. Also Palliative care option must be fully explored and considered.

4. Voted against the VAD Bill 2016 and/or stated opposition to voluntary assisted dying legislation • Liberal – Rene Hidding; Guy Barnett (very strong opponents); ; – ACL statement – I do not see a circumstance in which any future euthanasia legislation would receive my support.; John Tucker – ACL response included: I am pro-life and as such, do not support euthanasia. 4

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SOURCES, assisted dying legislation. The statement SURVEY AND OVERVIEW provided to the Australian Christian Lobby by Greens who responded states: The Tasmanian The sources of information on candidates’ Greens strongly support the right of views on voluntary assisted dying legislation Tasmanians suffering from advanced, have included: incurable, unrelievable suffering that palliation • the speeches and votes on 24 May 2017 on cannot alleviate to choose the time and the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2016 manner of their death. • the policy of the Greens Party as advised by Cassy O’Connor, Leader of the Greens In the additional information section, if there is • reports from members on their contact no mention of a Labor, Liberal or Jacqui Lambie with candidates Network candidate, it is because no response • the views of candidates provided to the was received. The letter to candidates said Australian Christian Lobby, and that if no response was received we would • returned survey forms from the DwDTas assume the person was opposed to voluntary survey and other comments by candidates. assisted dying legislation.

DwDTAS Election Survey Views of candidates provided to the Australian Christian Lobby DwDTas information and survey forms were The Australian Christian Lobby survey has sent to all new candidates for the Labor, become the main conservative “religious right” Liberal and Jacqui Lambie Network parties, but survey and it covers a range of issues. Family not to other smaller parties or independents. Voice Australia (formerly “Festival of Light”) Included with the survey form was additional has a webpage on an election survey but at the information including a letter to candidates time of writing this newsletter it contains no and a summary of the Voluntary Assisted Dying information. Bill 2016.

The ACL survey contains information on the The Liberal Party then sent the survey to all views of most Liberal candidates, two Liberal candidates including sitting MPs. Some Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidates and of those also responded but all maintained the one Independent. No Labor candidates seem same views expressed in the debate and vote to have responded to that survey. What’s on the VAD Bill 2016. most interesting to us is candidates’ responses

to the following statement and question: Our survey form asked only 2 questions: Euthanasia has been rejected by the 1. Do you support voluntary assisted dying Tasmanian Parliaments in 1998, 2009, 2013 legislation in-principle? Yes or No. and 2017. Would you oppose or support any 2. How likely are you to vote for a Voluntary future attempts to legalise euthanasia in Assisted Dying Bill similar to the Voluntary Tasmania? Assisted Dying Bill 2016 (see attached summary)? Likely, Unlikely or Don’t know. For more details - http://www.acl.org.au/taselection_2018. Those who responded often added a comment PRESIDENT’S OVERVIEW expressing strong support. The patterns in new candidates’ views on

voluntary assisted dying legislation are Greens candidates were not surveyed because depressingly the same as in the debate and of advice from Cassy O’Connor that we could vote on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2016, assume that all of them supported voluntary

other Tasmanian debates and debates on • A failure to acknowledge and respond with similar legislation throughout Australia. empathy and kindness for people at the PARTIES: Support is there from all Greens and end of their lives with terrible suffering, from the majority of Labor candidates, but even when they want to be remembered as from very few Liberals. a politician who is ‘empathetic’ (J Rylah), ‘compassionate’ (J Petrusma) or ‘caring’ (E All Liberal MPs except Nic Street, MP for Archer). Franklin, voted against the last Bill on 24 May • This failure is often accompanied by cruel, 17. At the time Nic Street presented in his ill-informed and/or irrational beliefs about speech the essence of Liberal values - giving the effectiveness of palliative care or that people the most autonomy possible to live people should have to suffer until some their lives free of government restriction – as indeterminate future time when ‘palliation’ well as compassion and empathy, intelligent, is magically and universally effective; reasoned arguments and informed decision- • An absence of evidence of their respect for making. In the email to Liberal candidates this competent adults to make their own point was made and an extract of his speech decisions about the end of their lives (even provided. when they also claim to be in favour of less Nic Street has recently confirmed to us his government interference) or for the continuing support. Only two more Liberal principle of the fundamental Australian candidates, Sue Hickey in Denison, and Bridget value of freedom of conscience, religion Archer in Bass, have told us they support the and belief or of acceptance of the legislation in principle and are likely to vote for democratic responsibility of MPs in a a Bill similar to the Voluntary Assisted Dying secular Parliament. Bill 2016. • Inaccurate, misleading and often unreasonable claims, particularly about the QUALITY OF THE ARGUMENTS: Candidates risks of such legislation and what happens generally support the legislation on the basis of overseas, when the candidates concerned compassion for those suffering terribly at the know, or ought reasonably to know, that end of their lives and respect for people to what they are saying is not correct. For make decisions about their lives and deaths. example, despite overwhelming evidence Some candidates acknowledged these aspects and the findings of all recent, thorough but expressed concerns, fears and conflicts. reviews, MPs like Rene Hidding continue to Some have indicated they are open to talking make false claims about “shocking abuses to us further, particularly if elected and when in places where such laws exist” or like specific legislation is proposed. We have Jacquie Petrusma claim it is “too great a advised we would like to talk to them further. threat to our most vulnerable”. We believe these fears, if genuinely held, can We will continue to follow up to challenge be allayed by the overwhelming evidence of these statements, particularly for those the compassion, safety and effectiveness of elected. such legislation.

The justifications for opposition to the HELP GET VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING legislation are a mirror-image of the political LEGISLATION BY VOTING FOR CANDIDATES campaign against it by largely religious WHO SUPPORT IT! individuals and groups and include:

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