Euthanasia support building The end of an era BY WILL MUMFORD keroyd an advocacy group that opposes reform to legalise BY KEIRA MORRIS-AKEROYD A Legislative changes to euthanasia laws in NSW have euthanasia – said these figures are often misleading. Once home to a number of the state’s gained significant parliamentary support after Greens “The current figures come from what is usually only a premier sporting associations - including MP Cate Faehrmann’s bill was co-sponsored by three one to two question poll, and they’re not nuanced in any NSW Rugby and the NSW Olympic members of the Legislative Assembly. significant way,” he said. Committee - the NSW Sports Club has been Independent MPs Alex Greenwich and Greg Piper, Mr Russell said euthanasia legislation is fraught with forced to close its doors due to significant Morris- Keira Photo: as well as Greens MP Jamie Parker, have announced risk and legitimate safeguards are difficult to establish. and ongoing financial losses. that they will sponsor the bill in the parliament’s Lower “These bills tend to expand and there is a tendency The club’s city premises - once a bustling House, after it was confirmed members of the Upper to abuse the safeguards that are there. There’s a hub of the Sydney sporting community - now House will debate the bill in May. progression, an incremental extension if you like, from lies dormant, with the entry brandishing a Ms Faehrmann’s Rights of the Terminally Ill the basic framework from which any of these laws notice of administration and the second story bill would give people with a terminal illness who begin,” he said. window playing host to a large ‘for lease’ The NSW Sports Club on Hunter St are conscious and of sound mind, but unable to be Richard Mills, President of Dying with Dignity sign. alleviated from their pain and suffering, the right to NSW, has been holding community forums with Ms Established in 1896, the club purchased Mr Ball noted the closure of the club was request of their doctor to be given assistance to die. Faehrmann in Sydney and various regional centres to the Hunter St building in the early 1900s but part of an ongoing trend. “In the inner Sydney A spokesperson for the New South Wales Premier discuss euthanasia legislation. Mr Mills said support for had to sell the property several years ago to area alone, 12 clubs have shut their doors Barry O’Farrell said: “In the event legislation on the issue remains overwhelming among citizens. stay afloat. over the past decade - that’s more than one euthanasia is presented to Parliament, Liberal Party MPs “Cate’s playing to win, and what has encouraged me According to Chairman Frank Malcolm, every year,” he said and MLCs will be given a conscience vote as occurred most is the Premier’s announcement that he’s now in the club was “the home of amateur sport in Brian Stoeckl, head of the club’s 1896 in 1996 when the issue was last considered.” favour of gay marriage,” he said. NSW” in the early years before becoming Restaurant, said there was a strong Labor Party MPs will hold a conscience vote in this “It’s the same as voluntary euthanasia - this issue is a more of a businessman’s club in the mid corporate clientele and that a number of circumstance. vote winner for him [and] the people are on side.” ‘60s. Mr Malcolm said the period between groups - including the NSW Rod Fishers’ Sydney MP Mr Greenwich, said that now is the 1960 and 1980 was the club’s “heyday” but Society - who used the club for meetings and oter perfect time to attempt reform to current euthanasia F the club has since struggled to turn a profit. functions. Despite a number of attempts to increase laws, as there is strong political cooperation and a “There were about 18 groups who would Photo: Photo: revenue, the club’s 2012 annual report declared conscience vote on the issue from both the meet quite regularly, either monthly or revealed a total comprehensive loss of over major parties. weekly. Friday lunches were exceptionally “I think it’s an issue that has to be handled in a $700 000. As a result, the club went into voluntary administration and ceased trading busy,” he said. nonpartisan and non-political way. We’re making that Andrew Harris, Honorary Secretary of clear throughout the process,” he said. on April 23. “The problem was that we were not getting the Rod Fishers’ Society, said that the Club “Often private members’ bills are introduced by had provided them with useful space for crossbenchers, not by party members and that’s the the traffic off the street,” said Mr Malcolm. functions. “The facilities for us have been situation we have. But that doesn’t discourage me at all “We had regular members but we were not great, the food was absolutely excellent and because I know there are a lot of people in both major generating new business.” we will miss it,” he said. parties that are interested in the bill and in the issue.” Clubs NSW CEO Anthony Ball said he Mr Malcolm agreed, recalling the club had The most recent Newspoll data shows approximately was saddened to see the club close. “The been an important part of his life even before 85 per cent of people in NSW support the legalisation of NSW Sports Club is one of Sydney’s oldest voluntary euthanasia, and these numbers are consistent not-for-profit clubs and it’s a real shame to he became Chairman. “It is sad to see the with research completed on a national scale. see a club with 117 years of history close its club end like this and I will miss it terribly,” However Paul Russell, the director of HOPE – doors,” he said. he said. Taking from one hand to feed another “As Chancellor of a leading Australian BY JONATHAN MIMO to receive a fair share of extra funding under the university… I fervently believe in and will There is widespread anger among the state’s proposed model. continue to advocate that increases be made in university hierarchy after NSW last week became The Liberal Governments’ in Queensland and funding the university sector - to ensure Australia Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide. the first state to sign up to the Gonski school Western Australia have so far been unwilling to is able to provide quality teaching and research in Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, education reforms. agree to the reforms without further negotiation. its universities.” convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. The move represented a win for the Federal WA Premier Colin Barnett said the offer was “not The acting Vice-Chancellor of Sydney Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by Government’s attempt to add $14.5 billion to the attractive to WA”. University, Stephen Garton, has claimed the Alternative Media Group of Australia. While every effort public and private school sector over six years. “every discipline in higher education is already is made to ensure accuracy of content, The Hub takes no Moreover, the Labor Governments’ in Other states are now under pressure to reach underfunded” and universities will struggle to cope responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. Tasmania, South Australia and ACT are yet to an agreement with the Federal Government after sign with some questions lingering over the model with a demand-led system, which has created an ABN 48 135 222 169 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) of the reforms. extra 150 000 extra student places since 2007. meeting failed to land a single state or territory While the reforms look set to benefit primary University of Sydney student and a member of the Education Action Group (EAG), Erima Cover Illustration: Edwin Monk - Courtney Powell and signing for Julia Gillard’s proposed plan. and secondary school children, the most State Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli said Dall, reflected wider student sentiment in stating Joe Kiely at Simmer on the Bay contentious issue remains enacting one of the NSW had secured an extra $5 billion in funding single largest cuts in recent times to the tertiary the cuts are due to the failure of the Gillard Labor Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons and resources for classrooms, with the majority education budget. Government. Group Manager: Chris Peken going to schools in most need. Critics have lined up against the cuts, insisting “This issue goes well beyond the tertiary Group Editor: Marcus Braid “I am proud of this historic reform which that the 2 per cent ‘efficiency dividend’ for education sector. It is about the deep conservatism City Hub Editor: Jonathan Mimo builds on our commitment to deliver a world-class university funding will directly affect university of this Labor Government … they have cut education system in NSW,” he said. university budgets and cut single parents payment, Editors: Peter Hackney and Daniel Paperny staff and students. Fears remain the cuts will The Federal Government is offering the money result in increased class sizes, less staff and more yet they won’t implement a decent tax on super Contributors: Gavin Gatenby, Will Mumford, Keira Morris- under a two-for-one deal, which would require expensive degrees. profits to properly fund their budget shortfalls,” Akeroyd, Eva Stefanidis, Georgia Fullerton and Tom Neale states to pay 35 per cent ($5.1 billion) of the In addition, the cuts will see the removal she said. Arts Editor: Leigh Livingstone reforms. of the 10 per cent discount on university fees The EAG again protested last Wednesday Live Music Editor: Imran Shahid NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell insisted the paid upfront, the conversion of student start- outside Labor Minister Tanya Plibersek’s office Dining Editor: Jackie McMillan widely criticised $1.7 billion cuts made towards up scholarships into a loan and capping tax with a crowd estimated to be around 100.