CONSERVATIVE North East MPs are taking a wait-and-see approach on voluntary euthanasia legislation, but a Labor counterpart is supporting it.
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The Victorian government is due to issue its response to a cross-party report that recommended reforms to give some terminally ill people the right to seek doctor-assisted suicide later on Thursday.
The committee's proposal is to allow adults with decision-making capacity, suffering from a serious and terminal condition with months or weeks left to live be given the choice to die.
While the government is yet to officially confirm a response to the report, it is expected to introduce legislation aimed at legalising voluntary euthanasia on Thursday.
Member for Benambra Bill Tilley was critical of the timing, but remained open to both sides of the debate.
“It’s a chaotic state of affairs in Spring Street at the moment with the Labor Government rushing through legislation in the last sitting week of parliament, bills that could and should have been dealt with much earlier,” he said.
“But on the assisted dying legislation I think it’s better to wait until we see the detail, make sure there are no hidden barbs in there.
“I’m more than familiar with the both sides of the argument – this has come before the parliament in 2008 and again in 2015 when it was argued it should be referred to the Law Reform Commission.
“I have also seen the impact on family and friends when a loved one is suffering in the final stages of a terminal illness.”
Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said it was too early for him to say where he stood on the issue.
“I would need to see what's in the bill first,” he said.
“I would probably say that there would be a fair portion of the community that would be in support of it.
“(Opposition leader) Matthew Guy has indicated that there will be a free vote, I think it's terrific that each MP gets to make that commitment themselves.”
Labor MLC Jaclyn Symes, who was a member of the committee and co-authored the report, supports the recommendations.
“The most compelling evidence came from the police and coroner, who described terribly sad situations of people finding their own means to take their lives,” she said.
“They ended up being quite isolated and lonely, away from family.
“I'm excited to be a part of a government brave enough to introduce this legislation.”