SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - FEBRUARY 2018

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1 SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION - FEBRUARY 2018 Authorised by the President of Dying with Dignity Tasmania Inc, Margaret Sing, 7 Faraday St, West Hobart Tas 7000 SUMMARY IN THIS ISSUE: 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 The Hare-Clark electoral system of multi-member electorates gives Tasmanian voters an excellent opportunity to vote for candidates who support voluntary assisted dying. 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 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) Scott Bacon, Tim Cox, Ella Haddad and Zelinda Sherlock; (Lib) Sue Hickey Franklin: (Greens) all, including sitting member Rosalie Woodruff; (Lab) Kathryn Barnsley, Alison Standen and David O Byrne; (Lib) Nic Street Lyons: (Greens) all; (Lab) Rebecca White, 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) Sarah Courtney (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) Roger Jaensch (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 info@dwdtas.org.au

2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY ELECTORATE BASS 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 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. Liberal - Peter Gutwein (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 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 2

3 Labor Shane Broad (at least he showed evidence of having considered it carefully) Liberal Jeremy Rockliff ACL statement - I have not supported euthanasia in 2009, 2013 or 2017, and my position will not change.; Adam Brooks 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 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; Felix Ellis ACL statement: Oppose. DENISON 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 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 Australia 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. Labor Madeleine Ogilvie Liberal Elise Archer 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. 3

4 FRANKLIN 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 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 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, but should I be elected and one before the parliament I would value your input in making a decision on my conscience vote. Liberal Will Hodgman (says will consider ); Jacquie Petrusma; Claire Chandler LYONS All Greens Labor Rebecca White; Kylie Wright Liberal Nil 2. In-principle but not necessarily to a Bill similar to the VAD Bill 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. Liberal Rene Hidding; Guy Barnett (very strong opponents); Mark Shelton; Jane Howlett ACL statement I do not see a circumstance in which any future euthanasia would receive my support.; John Tucker ACL response included: I am pro-life and as such, do not support euthanasia. 4

5 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SOURCES, SURVEY AND OVERVIEW The sources of information on candidates views on voluntary assisted dying have included: the speeches and votes on 24 May 2017 on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2016 the policy of the Greens Party as advised by Cassy O Connor, Leader of the Greens reports from members on their contact with candidates the views of candidates provided to the Australian Christian Lobby, and returned survey forms from the DwDTas survey and other comments by candidates. DwDTAS Election Survey DwDTas information and survey forms were sent to all new candidates for the Labor, Liberal and Jacqui Lambie Network parties, but not to other smaller parties or independents. Included with the survey form was additional information including a letter to candidates and a summary of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill The Liberal Party then sent the survey to all Liberal candidates including sitting MPs. Some of those also responded but all maintained the same views expressed in the debate and vote on the VAD Bill Our survey form asked only 2 questions: 1. Do you support voluntary assisted dying in-principle? Yes or No. 2. How likely are you to vote for a Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill similar to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2016 (see attached summary)? Likely, Unlikely or Don t know. Those who responded often added a comment expressing strong support. Greens candidates were not surveyed because of advice from Cassy O Connor that we could assume that all of them supported voluntary assisted dying. The statement provided to the Australian Christian Lobby by Greens who responded states: The Tasmanian Greens strongly support the right of Tasmanians suffering from advanced, incurable, unrelievable suffering that palliation cannot alleviate to choose the time and manner of their death. In the additional information section, if there is no mention of a Labor, Liberal or Jacqui Lambie Network candidate, it is because no response was received. The letter to candidates said that if no response was received we would assume the person was opposed to voluntary assisted dying. Views of candidates provided to the Australian Christian Lobby The Australian Christian Lobby survey has become the main conservative religious right survey and it covers a range of issues. Family Voice Australia (formerly Festival of Light ) has a webpage on an election survey but at the time of writing this newsletter it contains no information. The ACL survey contains information on the views of most Liberal candidates, two Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidates and one Independent. No Labor candidates seem to have responded to that survey. What s most interesting to us is candidates responses to the following statement and question: Euthanasia has been rejected by the Tasmanian Parliaments in 1998, 2009, 2013 and Would you oppose or support any future attempts to legalise euthanasia in Tasmania? For more details - PRESIDENT S OVERVIEW The patterns in new candidates views on voluntary assisted dying are depressingly the same as in the debate and vote on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2016,

6 other Tasmanian debates and debates on similar throughout Australia. PARTIES: Support is there from all Greens and from the majority of Labor candidates, but from very few Liberals. All Liberal MPs except Nic Street, MP for Franklin, voted against the last Bill on 24 May 17. At the time Nic Street presented in his speech the essence of Liberal values - giving people the most autonomy possible to live their lives free of government restriction as well as compassion and empathy, intelligent, reasoned arguments and informed decisionmaking. In the to Liberal candidates this point was made and an extract of his speech provided. Nic Street has recently confirmed to us his continuing support. Only two more Liberal candidates, Sue Hickey in Denison, and Bridget Archer in Bass, have told us they support the in principle and are likely to vote for a Bill similar to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill QUALITY OF THE ARGUMENTS: Candidates generally support the on the basis of compassion for those suffering terribly at the end of their lives and respect for people to make decisions about their lives and deaths. Some candidates acknowledged these aspects but expressed concerns, fears and conflicts. Some have indicated they are open to talking to us further, particularly if elected and when specific is proposed. We have advised we would like to talk to them further. We believe these fears, if genuinely held, can be allayed by the overwhelming evidence of the compassion, safety and effectiveness of such. The justifications for opposition to the are a mirror-image of the political campaign against it by largely religious individuals and groups and include: A failure to acknowledge and respond with empathy and kindness for people at the end of their lives with terrible suffering, even when they want to be remembered as a politician who is empathetic (J Rylah), compassionate (J Petrusma) or caring (E Archer). This failure is often accompanied by cruel, ill-informed and/or irrational beliefs about the effectiveness of palliative care or that people should have to suffer until some indeterminate future time when palliation is magically and universally effective; An absence of evidence of their respect for competent adults to make their own decisions about the end of their lives (even when they also claim to be in favour of less government interference) or for the principle of the fundamental Australian value of freedom of conscience, religion and belief or of acceptance of the democratic responsibility of MPs in a secular Parliament. Inaccurate, misleading and often unreasonable claims, particularly about the risks of such and what happens overseas, when the candidates concerned know, or ought reasonably to know, that what they are saying is not correct. For example, despite overwhelming evidence and the findings of all recent, thorough reviews, MPs like Rene Hidding continue to make false claims about shocking abuses in places where such laws exist or like Jacquie Petrusma claim it is too great a threat to our most vulnerable. We will continue to follow up to challenge these statements, particularly for those elected. HELP GET VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING LEGISLATION BY VOTING FOR CANDIDATES WHO SUPPORT IT! 6