The Greens Party – Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Assisted Dying https://christiansforvad.org.au Formerly known as Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Euthanasia Sat, 14 May 2022 00:03:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.13 Federal Election 2022 – candidate support for restoring Right of Territories to make their Voluntary Assisted Dying law https://christiansforvad.org.au/federal-election-2022-candidate-support-for-restoring-right-of-territories-to-make-their-voluntary-assisted-dying-law/ Mon, 09 May 2022 06:01:35 +0000 https://christiansforvad.org.au/?p=821 While there are many important issues that form part of Policies, or lack of Policies, in this Federal Election, restoring the Right of the Territories to make their own Voluntary Assisted Dying laws is surely one issue to be addressed, especially now that 5 Australian states now have a VAD law.

In view of this, I contacted each of the Federal Lower House candidates for Whitlam, where I am located in NSW, and the lead Senate candidates for every Party listed for NSW, asking if they would support a VAD law for the Territories, overturning of what is known as the ‘Andrews Bill’ at the time of the Howard Government, that took away the Right of the Territories to enact such a law..

Some of the  responses were very thoughtful and supportive, and yet in so many other cases, I received no reply at all.

Here is a table summarizing the responses >

Party Yes/no Comment
Labor Yes for Whitlam Stephen Jones, Labor MP for Whitlam, has personally indicated his support for a VAD law to Ian Wood.

No reply from Senate candidates for Labor
Coalition No response from Liberal or National Party Senate candidates
Greens Yes Have a long standing policy of support for VAD laws.
United Australia Yes Allan Wode. United Australia Party candidate for Whitlam, stated – In regards to states and territories having the ability to pass VAD law, I do support this due to most have already made up their mind to do so. Based on the ability people have when they are at this stage of life, most cannot do anything about it so they live on in agony until the end.

In saying that as with anything there needs to be clear and irrefutable evidence of being terminally ill and enduring suffering they find unbearable. Without clear guidelines on VAD laws it could be misconstrued as a way out for those that cannot help themselves out of depression or other illness to not be a contributor of society.

Support by United Australia Party Senate candidates is unknown.
TNL No reply
Great Australia No reply
Reason Yes Jane Caro, Reason Party lead Senate candidate, strong support for a VAD law. Very understandable as the Reason Party in NSW was formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Party.
Animal Justice Yes No reply but have supported VAD laws previously
Liberal Democrats No reply from Michael Wheeler, candidate for Whitlam, nor from their Senate candidates
Indigenous-Aboriginal No reply, contact email bounced!
Socialist Alliance No reply
Australian Democrats No reply
Australian Values Yes Stated – Per our Health Policy, we believe that such [VAD} laws should be  standardised at the Federal Layer of Government. We have had enough of the States having different laws for the health and welfare of Australian Citizens.

We are also pro-choice for people to make their own health decisions.
Citizens Yes Kingsley Liu, Citizens Party Senate Candidate stated – Yes. – they support restoring the Right for the Territories to have a VAD law, and a VAD law for NSW
Fusion Yes Andrea Leong Fusion Party Senate candidate stated- Voluntary assisted dying is an important aspect of the principle of  self-ownership. Support for voluntary assisted dying is not a statement  of any kind on the value of life, it is merely respect for the right of  persons to make decisions on these matters for themselves in the light  of their individual circumstances. While safeguards are necessary, all  people should be allowed to live and end their lives with dignity and  peace. Bans on voluntary assisted dying create a legacy of suffering and  a shattering loss of dignity and autonomy.
Medical Options No reply
Federal ICAC No reply
Sustainable Australia Yes Late response.  Sustainable Australia Party candidates do generally support states and territories making their own decisions on this issue and do generally support VAD laws.
One Nation No No reply, but have previously indicated One Nation do not support a VAD law.
Legalise Cannabis No reply
Seniors United No reply
SFFP No reply re Federal Election. However for NSW Parliament we have this curious situation where the Shooters. Fishers and Farmer in HA support VAD and the Upper House MPs oppose!

Regardless of who ends up in Government, I sincerely hope that this Right of the Territories to make their VAD law can be restored.  It is inequitable, discriminatory and inhumane that the ACT and the NT are currently excluded.  We are still hoping that by the date of the Federal Election on May 19, NSW may have become the final state to pass their Voluntary Assisted Dying law.

Thank you for reading this.

Ian Wood, Spokesperson, Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Assisted Dying.   Australia

 

]]> The DWD NSW “Pollies Register” for State Election March 28. Who is PRO-CHOICE? https://christiansforvad.org.au/the-dwd-nsw-pollies-register-for-state-election-march-28-who-is-pro-choice/ Fri, 06 Mar 2015 09:18:33 +0000 https://christiansforvad.org.au/?p=224 I attended the Dying with Dignity NSW Forum at Parliament House in Sydney, Wednesday 25th February.

A feature of the afternoon was the launch of the Pollies Register, that lists the support or otherwise of NSW MP’s and candidates on the issue of VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING for the Election on Saturday 28 March.

The LOWER HOUSE list may be found here, but please check for updates as they come in –
http://dwdnsw.org.au/documents/2015/pollies%20regsiter.pdf

Pro-Choice candidates for the Upper House can be found here –
http://dwdnsw.org.au/vote-for-pro-choice-candidates-in-the-nsw-election/

DWDnsw President Sarah Edelman gave an insight into why so many candidates and MPs have not responded. I have personally emailed or Facebooked each of these “non- responses” in an effort to get learn if they are Pro-Choice.
Sincere thanks to our NSW members who have made the effort to contact their candidates.

Speakers Trevor Khan, Nationals MLC and journalist Tracey Spicer gave harrowing stories behind why they support this issue

Christians Supporting Choice for VE is certainly not a political party, however we would encourage members to vote for Pro-Choice candidates who support Assisted Dying. Note that The Greens Policy is to strongly support this issue.

In the Upper House, please consider The Voluntary Euthanasia Party and the dynamic Shayne Higson, their lead candidate. If voting above the line on the Upper House white ballot paper you may wish to vote [1] VEP then give your usual preference the [2].

For the two major parties, Voluntary Assisted Dying is supposedly a ‘conscience’ issue. This makes the last vote on the Upper House Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill impossible to understand, given 4 out of 5 Australians are in support! Labor voted 61.5% in Favour of VE, 8 For / 5 Against. The Coalition had 0% in favour, all their votes were against or abstaining.

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