MY LIFE MY CHOICE A newsletter produced for the dominant purpose of educating and raising awareness of the need for voluntary assisted dying law reform in Queensland — No.17 October 2020 Two simple COUNTDOWN FOR questions The My Life My Choice CANDIDATES coalition partners are asking all state election candidates Would -be MPs quizzed on two questions to determine the strength of their support support for VAD law reform STATE ELECTION for voluntary assisted dying. Recently Dying With Dignity supporters at Hervey Bay in 2020 We believe anyone seeking to the Fraser Coast and at Bundaberg in the Wide Bay region become an MP in the 2020- arranged public events to highlight the need for voters to 2024 Queensland Parliament quiz state election candidates on their support for should be able to answer voluntary assisted dying laws. these very basic in-principle questions which do not rely on Both events were very successful in attracting valuable seeing any draft VAD Bill. media exposure and the Bundaberg forum was even attended by one of the region’s local MPs, David Batt (LNP QUESTION 1: Do you, as a Bundaberg) who engaged with the audience in often matter of principle support vigorous terms, but did not provide a definitive answer to the right of Queenslanders whether he supports VAD in principle. to have the choice of seeking access to a system The My Life My Choice coalition has been asking all election of voluntary assisted dying candidates to state where they stand on VAD. under appropriate CONTINUED PAGE 2 protections and safeguards, if they have a terminal illness or neurological condition causing them intolerable suffering? QUESTION 2: Would you, as an MP in the Queensland Parliament ensure your vote on a VAD Bill reflects the wishes of your constituents? The results of our survey will be released prior to the start of pre-poll voting on 19 October. Those on our Clockwise from top right: Dr Sid Finnigan addresses Fraser newsletter mail-out list will Coast DWDQ members, DWDQ’s Phill Browne tells his receive a copy of the survey story, David Muir talks at the Bundaberg forum, DWDQ’s report. Phyllis Wagner with Sid and David at the Bundaberg forum Another US state Next Premier holds NT marks a the key to reform milestone moves on VAD laws Page 2 Page 4 Page 5 You can follow us on Facebook @mlmcaus and Twitter @mlmcaus RESULTS OF Pro-VAD candidate declares ELECTION QUIZ VAD advocate Dr Richard Stuckey has The LNP’s Laura Gerber won the seat announced his intention to run as an in a March by-election. RELEASED SOON independent candidate in the Gold Dr Stuckey was reportedly planning to FROM PAGE 1: Coast seat of Currumbin. focus on a number of local issues as His wife, Jann Stuckey, who held the well as supporting VAD. At the time of writing about seat for the LNP until retiring in 320 people had publicly “COVID will pass and the economy will January for health reasons. Mrs declared their plans to recover slowly, but people will still get Stuckey was also a VAD supporter nominate as candidates for terminal illnesses. They deserve a despite the LNP’s official anti-VAD the 31 October state Dr Richard Stuckey choice in how they die,” he said. platform. election. On top of the 87 sitting MPs Post-poll Premier will be recontesting their seats in the 93-member parliament that means we have pivotal to law reform attempted to quiz around Whether Queensland will have a is to support VAD and the LNP’s 410 individuals about their system of voluntary assisted is to oppose it. in-principle position on dying depends largely on who voluntary assisted dying. However, because any vote on leads the government elected at We recognise that it is VAD would rightly be a the 31 October election. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk inevitable that not all of conscience vote, no MP on (left) and Opposition Leader Deb those we asked will respond either side of the house would Frecklington (right) The current Premier, Annastacia in time to be included in the be bound by their party policy. Palaszczuk, has referred the published results. recommendations for VAD laws But a conscience vote made by the State Parliament’s However, we will have given means nothing if a VAD Bill is not Health Committee Inquiry to the them every opportunity to put before MPs to debate and Queensland Law reform do so. hopefully pass. Commission. We believe that the answers So far Ms Frecklington has not It is the QLRC’s task now to draft provided by those who do committed to do so. answer our questions will a VAD Bill and return it to the STATE ELECTION government by 1 March 2021. Unless that position changes, it give voters a good idea means that if Ms Frecklington 2020 about which candidates in If her Labor Party is returned to becomes premier any VAD Bill their seat can be relied upon office and she remains leader of to back a VAD Bill if and now being drafted by the QLRC KEY DATES: the government, Ms Palaszczuk when one reaches the floor may not be progressed by her Candidate nominations close would be expected to have State of the 2020-2024 government. and ballot draw: Sunday 11 Cabinet consider the draft Bill Queensland Parliament. October from the QLRC and submit it to In such circumstances it may be Pre-poll voting: Monday 19 the parliament for consideration left to an individual MP in any David Muir by its 93 MPs. October-Friday 30 October party or an independent to Election day: Saturday 31 Chair sponsor a private member’s Bill October The Clem Jones Trust The Labor Party’s official policy to deliver VAD law reform. ‘Simmo’ loses his last fight Former state secretary of the Electrical Trades Union in Queensland, Peter Simpson, recently lost his fight with melanoma. Mr Simpson was just 57 when he died. As a union official he was known as a tough and no-nonsense industrial especially through public and social media Queenslanders now and in the future can advocate. He brought that toughness and channels (pictured) in recognition of the fact benefit from them. It is a simple request dedication to his personal health battle that it is a reform that holds the possibility that no person who is suffering should wait but also found time and energy to of benefitting its own members by offering a a day longer than necessary for VAD laws. advocate for voluntary assisted dying better choice at the end of life. laws. The members of the My Life My Choice In particular the union has been asking for coalition express their condolences to Mr As a result of his struggle the ETU has VAD laws to be passed and implemented in Simpson’s family, friends, and colleagues. been campaigning strongly for VAD laws Queensland without any delay so that Helping to spread the message Voters and candidates need to consider VAD before the polls close In the past few weeks and in the days remaining before the state election, members of Dying With Dignity Queensland will be out and about reminding voters of the importance of the state poll to the future of VAD law reform. Our members and supporters have STATE ELECTION been active at various venues such as a shopping centre at Elanora on 2020 the Gold Coast where former LNP MP for Currumbin and VAD supporter, Jann Stuckey, and her husband Richard dropped by to lend their support to our efforts (pictured right). We have been telling Queenslanders evidence was in favour of having about Dying With Dignity Queensland and voluntary assisted dying laws. its history. We now must wait to see if the We are also telling them of the critical party or parties forming the next importance of their vote at the 31 state government will progress October state election and the need for those laws. them to assess all candidates standing in If a VAD Bill is put to parliament, their seat to see if their next MP will back we need to know that the majority VAD law reform or not. of the 93 MPs who’ll consider it The fight to have voluntary assisted dying are in favour of VAD law reform. laws in Queensland has been running for decades. Which means voters need to send pro-VAD MPs to the 2020-2024 But in just the last few years we have parliament. seen our Queensland Parliament agree to a widespread inquiry into end-of-life It is that key message we will issues including VAD. continue to push as we approach election day. That inquiry led by Aaron Harper, the Member for Thuringowa, and including Jos Hall MPs from the Labor Party, the LNP, and President the Greens, undertook the massive task of listening to hundreds of witnesses, and Dying With Dignity considering thousands of submissions. Queensland As expected the overwhelming weight of www.dwdq.org.au Marj makes a good point DWDQ. members and supporters give VAD law reform any in North Queensland continue priority in the next State to advocate strongly for VAD Parliament. laws and to call for MPs and would-be MPs to support law That means that if KAP MPs reform. hold the balance of power, the issue of VAD law Marj Lawrence continued their reform will not be on the efforts recently by using a letter parliamentary agenda. to the editor to point out the risk of supporting political parties If that happens then the VAD Bill 2020-2024 Queensland be a real tragedy if VAD law that ignore the need for VAD being drafted by the Queensland Parliament.