Upper House Labor representative for the North East Jaclyn Symes advocates euthanasia being made legal in speech to parliament

The Benalla-raised Upper House member advocated the Victorian government’s voluntary assisted dying bill in parliament on Thursday.

“I am voting for this bill so last words to loved ones are sad but content goodbyes, not desperate pleas for help to die,” Ms Symes said.

“I am voting for this bill so that medical professionals are clear about what they can do to help ease suffering and hasten death.

“I am voting for the bill so that those diagnosed with a terminal illness are Googling ‘how do I enjoy my last 12 months of life’ and writing bucket lists, not Googling ‘how best to kill myself’ and writing suicide notes.”

Ms Symes, who was part of a parliamentary committee which last year studied euthanasia across the world, said she supported the bill in its “entirety”.

She rejected moves to amend the ability to access the bill from 12 months before death to six months.

“It’s fair to say that many people with a neuro-degentrative disease would effectively lose the benefit of access if we did not have a 12-month outer limit,” Ms Symes said.

The former disability rights advocate said that six of eight members on the committee “strongly agreed” to a framework for legalised euthanasia.

“This majority is reflective of widespread public support for reform,” Ms Symes said.

“Phone polls across North East Victoria, including towns such as Seymour, Benalla, Wangaratta, Yarrawonga, showed 84 to 85 per cent support for a terminally ill patient being allowed to access a lethal dose.”

Former Victorian health minister David Davis, who spoke immediately before Ms Symes, questioned polls supporting right-to-die laws.

He believes the public has serious concerns about the safeguards which would accompany the law.

Other members for Northern Victoria are due to speak on the bill on Friday with a final vote not expected until later this month. 

Lower House North East MPs opposed the bill.