MY LIFE MY CHOICE QUEENSLAND STATE ELECTION CANDIDATES’ ATTITUDES TO VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING 19 OCTOBER 2020 VAD law reform hangs in the balance STATEMENT BY THE MY LIFE MY sound evidence for VAD laws, CHOICE COALITION PARTNERS: What we asked...... would be invaluable to any future debate. So too would the This report canvasses the results other Health Committee MPs of a survey by the My Life My The My Life My Choice partners asked candidates two questions who supported the majority Choice coalition which attempted findings: Joan Pease (Lytton); to determine the strength of to record attitudes to voluntary Michael Berkman (Maiwar); and their support for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) law reform Barry O’Rourke (Rockhampton). assisted dying. held by close to 600 candidates it is too late after polls close for standing at the 31 October Our belief in the value of having voters to discover that their MP QUESTION 1: Do you, as a Queensland election. present in parliament MPs for 2020-2024 will not support a matter of principle support involved in an inquiry into Several factors mean the survey VAD Bill. the right of Queenslanders matters of vital public policy is to have the choice of had a less than full response. We The passage of any VAD Bill will validated by an examination of seeking access to a system recognise that candidates can be depend on having a majority the fate of the inquiry into of voluntary assisted dying inundated with surveys before among 93 MPs willing to palliative care conducted by the elections. Candidates whose under appropriate support safe and workable laws, then Health Committee on the nominations were not known until protections and safeguards, and that prospect remains initiative of the Newman at or close to the ECQ’s deadline if they have a terminal unclear. Government from June 2012 to illness or neurological for nominations may not have had May 2013. time to respond or have been So too does the likelihood of a condition causing them difficult to contact. VAD Bill even being debated. intolerable suffering? That inquiry made more than 60 recommendations for improving The current Premier initiated Nevertheless, it is fair to draw the palliative care yet few were the Health Committee Inquiry QUESTION 2: Would you, as conclusion from the responses implemented and the Harper into VAD, referred its reform an MP in the Queensland received at this time that the Inquiry needed to revisit the recommendations for VAD laws Parliament ensure your vote introduction of VAD laws in subject as part of its inquiry into to the Queensland Law Reform on a VAD Bill reflects the Queensland is far from certain. end-of-life issues. Commission, and has said if re- wishes of your constituents? The ratings applied to MPs and elected she would put a VAD Bill Of the seven MPs who served on candidates were based on their to Parliament. We believe candidates should the 2012-2015 Health response to two survey questions be able to answer these basic as well as any previous statements This shows strong support for in-principle questions which Committee, four were not or actions in support of VAD law VAD law reform and the right of do not rely on seeing any draft returned at the 2015 election, reform. Queenslanders to make their VAD Bill. yet their knowledge and own choices on VAD. advocacy may have made a The lack of response from many difference to the fate of their candidates reinforces the central No similar commitments have inquiry’s recommendations. point being stressed by the My Life been made by the LNP leader ensure their next state MP My Choice partners – that voters whose official party platform reflects their views. However, the future of all opposes VAD. current sitting MPs rightly rests must satisfy themselves of the However, we do wish to make attitude to VAD by candidates with voters. While LNP MPs are likely to the relevant point that if a VAD standing in their local seat. Bill is to be progressed it would DAVID MUIR exercise a conscience vote on While some candidates have not any VAD Bill, such a provision is be beneficial if the four MPs Chair and will not respond to surveys meaningless if an LNP-led comprising the majority of the The Clem Jones Group Health Committee Inquiry that such as ours, it is harder for them government does not submit a JOS HALL Bill to the Parliament. recommended law reform were to avoid discussion of this vital President issue with voters. participants in any debate in the Queensland Parliament. Dying With Dignity Queensland The My Life My Choice coalition So we continue to encourage does not endorse or support Dr SID FINNIGAN Queenslanders who support VAD any individual candidates or In particular, the knowledge of State Convenor law reform to seek out candidates parties. committee chair Aaron Harper Doctors for Assisted Dying and ask for their views directly. MP (Thuringowa) who skilfully Choice We have stressed to pro-VAD and sensitively navigated often We also again make the point that voters the need for them to emotional testimony to distil The My Life My Choice coalition advocates for voluntary assisted dying law reform. It does not endorse any political party or candidate. Its dominant purpose at the time of the 2020 Queensland state election has been to encourage voters to find out for themselves where their local candidates stand on VAD. RESULTS AT A GLANCE....... ALL PARTIES AND INDEPENDENTS: 597 candidates in 93 seats, 164 VAD supporters or qualified supporters, 37 unclear/uncommitted, 13 opponents, 383 no responses QUEENSLAND GREENS: 93 seats contested, 50 VAD supporters, 0 unclear/uncommitted, 0 opponents, 43 no responses LABOR PARTY: 93 seats contested, 52 supporters, 8 unclear/uncommitted, 0 opponents, 33 no responses LIBERAL NATIONAL PARTY: 93 seats contested, 3* VAD supporters, 20 unclear/uncommitted, 0 opponents, 70 no responses *Bancroft, Burleigh, Caloundra PAULINE HANSON’S ONE NATION: 90 seats contested, 15 supporters, 7 unclear/uncommitted, 2+ opponents, 66 no responses + Caloundra, Coomera KATTER’S AUSTRALIAN PARTY: 13 seats contested, 1* VAD supporter, 0 unclear/uncommitted, 0 opponents, 12 no responses * Rockhampton UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY: 55 seats contested, 7* VAD supporters, 0 unclear/uncommitted, 0 opponents, 48 no responses * Barron River, Coomera, Gaven, Pine Rivers, Pumicestone, Scenic Rim, Whitsunday INFORMED MEDICAL OPTIONS PARTY: 31 seats contested, 3* VAD supporters, 0 unclear/uncommitted, 8+ opponents, 20 no responses * Glass House, Oodgeroo, Townsville + Burnett, Capalaba, Everton, Hill, Maryborough, Pine Rivers, Redlands, Rockhampton NORTH QUEENSLAND FIRST: 5 seats contested, 2 VAD supporters, 0 unclear/uncommitted, 0 opponents, 3 no responses * Mirani, Townsville CIVIL LIBERTIES AND MOTORISTS PARTY: 16 seats contested, 3* VAD supporters, 0 unclear/uncommitted, 1+ opponent, 12 no responses * Macalister, Mermaid Beach, Stafford + Springwood ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY: 13 seats contested, 4* VAD supporters, 0 unclear/uncommitted, 0 opponents, 9 no responses *Burleigh, Hervey Bay, Maroochydore, Townsville LEGALISE CANNABIS QUEENSLAND: 24 seats contested, 8 VAD supporters, 0 unclear/uncommitted, 0 opponents, 16 no responses * Bundaberg, Everton, Gaven, Inala, Mermaid Beach, Mt Ommaney, Rockhampton, Whitsunday COPYCAT RESPONSES FAIL TO REVEAL A POSITION The rating of responses from CANDIDATE RATINGS submitted responses provided by about politicians being afraid candidates is based on a colour- VAD SUPPORTER their party organisation that did to speak their minds. coded system (at right). not address the two very specific QUALIFIED SUPPORTER Those providing unequivocal questions asked. The various template UNCLEAR/UNCOMMITTED “yes/yes” answers to our two responses are provided questions or a clearly positive VAD OPPONENT Despite the prospect of a below for the information of conscience vote, it is clear many voters. answer with only slightly NO RESPONSE LNP MPs and candidates were conditional language were Most of those responses saw content to adhere to a carbon- assessed as being supporters or number included some known the MP or candidate copy form of words reflecting qualified supporters. VAD supporters. concerned being classed as their party’s anti-VAD platform. VAD opponents were those who uncommitted or unclear. Of greater concern, and a matter provided clear “no/no” responses of some disappointment, was Labor MPs or candidates who As expected there was a or whose qualified answers made the number of respondents who adhered to their version of a variety of responses across all their anti-VAD position clear. did not give a clear personal template response may similarly parties as VAD is a matter feel unable to commit publicly to We have earlier discussed the response but who relied on an subject to a conscience vote. a personal in-principle position. number of MPs and candidates answer consisting of a template The My Life My Choice who gave no response and the form of words. coalition thanks all As noted, these are both possible reasons. disappointing developments and candidates who responded to Many MPs or candidates running our survey. It is unfortunate that their for the LNP and the Labor Party sadly highlight voter assumptions INDEPEND ENTS UNAFRAID TO BACK VAD LAW REFORM Independent candidates who being a supporter or qualified explicitly placed their support In the Redland Bay region the responded to the My Life My supporter of VAD. for VAD on the political agenda independent candidate for Choice survey overwhelmingly in their seats. Oodgeroo, Claire Richardson, is backed VAD law reform. Current Independent Member for attempting to take the seat Noosa, Sandy Bolton, has pursued On the Gold Coast in the seat of from known anti-VAD MP, the Close to 70 independents have VAD law reform in her first term, Currumbin, Dr Richard Stuckey is LNP’s Dr Mark Robinson.