Historic euthanasia laws pass upper house vote in Victoria
Victoria is set to become the first Australian state to legalise assisted dying, after historic voluntary euthanasia laws were passed the upper house vote on Wednesday.
The Bill passed Victoria’s Upper House, with 22 votes to 18.
After a marathon sitting in which the Bill was debated for approximately 100 hours, the Bill passed with MPs seen weeping and hugging in emotional scenes.
The Bill will be sent back down to Victoria’s Lower House in its amended form.
Not everyone is happy however, with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott deciding to weigh in on the issue in an interview with 2GB radio presenter Ben Fordham.
“I very much regret the fact the same-sex marriage debate has very much distracted us from this bid to legalise a doctor assisted dying,” Abbott said.
“People’s lives have to be respected and this idea that we should end the lives of people who have failed our test of usefulness or have failed our test of what constitutes a decent quality of life is absolutely dead wrong and I hope that a future Victorian Parliament might reverse this.
“Doctors should be healers, they should never be required to be killers.”
But Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has remained steadfast in his support of the controversial Bill, posting a message on Twitter that outlined the nature of the measure.
“Let's remember what we are debating here: the most conservative voluntary assisted dying model that has ever been proposed – let alone implemented – anywhere in the world,” Premier Andrews said.
“This legislation is safe. Its purpose is clear. Its time has come.”
Let's remember what we are debating here: the most conservative voluntary assisted dying model that has ever been proposed – let alone implemented – anywhere in the world.
This legislation is safe. Its purpose is clear. Its time has come. #springst— Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) November 22, 2017
So within 18 months, voluntary euthanasia likely to be happening in Victoria #springst
— Matt Johnston (@Media_Matt) November 22, 2017
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Hero image credit: Twitter / Danielle