Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I want to call upon the parliament to once and for all finalise the issue of voluntary euthanasia. I think it is fair to say that over the last 30 years we as a political class have failed to grapple with something that I believe is a very significant issue—that is, giving people in their final stages of life, particularly those suffering terminal illness, the capacity to be assisted in their process of dying.

I think we have, as a political group, been far too timid to accept what is overwhelmingly supported by the Australian people; we should have a choice in those final stages of our lives as to whether we die with dignity or we are required to continue to suffer in pain and agony.

Currently supporters of this within the Australian community outnumber the opponents six to one. I think it is time for us to act. I do not believe this is something that we can leave up to the state and territory governments. We have seen this attempted unsuccessfully in a number of jurisdictions. I believe there is clearly a head of power in section 51 that enables us to legislate medically based assistance for dying. I call upon us to think of these revolting cases we so often hear about, where people are required to suffer an immense indignity because we have been too fearful of legislating in this regard.

In Western Australia we have seen some absolutely appalling cases. Herbert Erickson did not want to be a torchbearer for euthanasia, but this 81-year-old gentleman was found drowned in the ocean. He had cared for his wife for many years. They had a suicide pact. He smothered his wife and then attempted to kill himself. But his attempt failed. He was then charged with her murder and subsequently found guilty. He was forced, in his view, to take his own life in a more dramatic way. There was the case of Christian Rossiter, a paraplegic living in a nursing home, his health failing— (Time expired)