X-Message-Number: 7037 Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 11:52:10 +1000 (EAST) From: (Kitty te Riele) Subject: Australia update David Brandt-Erichsen has asked me to post news messages regarding the euthanasia debate in Australia while he is away. The second article posted here is the more interesting one: a poll showed that 75% of people continue to support legal voluntary euthanasia in Australia. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >From The Age: 9 October 1996 MP may try to scuttle euthanasia bill By KAREN MIDDLETON, Canberra Federal legislation to overturn the Northern Territory's euthanasia laws could be scuttled on the floor of Parliament in a move to minimise the growing political damage it is causing the coalition. A South Australian MP and euthanasia supporter, Mrs Christine Gallus, yesterday told her colleagues in the coalition party room she was considering asking Parliament to vote that the controversial bill not proceed. Mrs Gallus is believed to have received considerable vocal support for her proposal from colleagues and Labor MPs have also indicated they may support the motion if it proceeds. Her position emerged as the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, expressed regrets in the party room that the issue had arisen at all. Mrs Gallus's move is likely to appeal to many MHRs and senators who are concerned about the private member's bill presented by the Victorian MP Mr Kevin Andrews. It would enable the NT's legislation to remain without federal MPs having to vote either for or against euthanasia and risk a political backlash. Last night a Liberal backbencher, Mr Tony Smith, crossed the floor to vote against the Government's bid to refer the bill to the Parliament's secondary chamber, the main committee. Later, Mr Smith said his move was prompted by a meeting with constituents from his Queensland electorate at which strong support was expressed for full public debate on euthanasia. "Frankly it was absolutely clear from that meeting and also from the various discussions I have had with constituents that they expect a public debate where they can both hear and see it and not some debate that is sidetracked and taken away from the pre-eminent chamber," Mr Smith said. But the NT Country Liberal Party MP Mr Nick Dondas voted with the Government despite a call from the NT Chief Minister, Mr Shane Stone, for a full and open debate on the issue. Mr Howard yesterday acknowledged that the euthanasia debate was causing political damage, as divisions on the issue deepened in the coalition party room. He told his colleagues he wished the euthanasia issue, to be debated in Federal Parliament on 28 October, had never arisen because of the difficulties it was causing. But he said that as a move to overturn the Northern Territory's euthanasia laws had come this far it could not now be stopped. Mr Howard refused to allow a party-room vote on a motion to dump the bill but is believed to have said there was nothing preventing such a vote in the chamber. He has previously expressed his personal opposition to euthanasia and vowed to support the private member's bill which seeks to override the NT law. All parties are allowing a conscience vote. More than a dozen MPs yesterday spoke about the damage the euthanasia debate was doing to the coalition's stocks, particularly in marginal seats. One marginal-seat holder said he had received strong political backing from church groups ahead of the 2 March federal election and feared a backlash if the debate proceeded. * * * * * * * * >From the Sydney Morning Herald October 9, 1996 Poll reveals 75% of voters don't want euthanasia law overturned By MARGO KINGSTON in Canberra Three-quarters of Australian voters oppose the Andrews private member's bill to overturn the Northern Territory pro-euthanasia law, with virtually no differences on the basis of gender, voting intention or State of residence, a Herald ABG-McNair poll has found. The finding came as the bill's chief supporter, the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, yesterday ignored protests from Labor and downgraded debate on the bill from the main parliamentary chamber to a small room where debate cannot be broadcast. Sources said that in a stormy Coalition party-room meeting Mr Howard also overruled calls by Northern Territory MP Mr Nick Dondas for a party-room vote on dumping the bill. Mr Howard, who gave special permission for the private member's bill to be debated and voted on, said he would not allow Government business to be interrupted in the main chamber. The Northern Territory's Chief Minister, Mr Shane Stone, condemned the downgrading as "a slap in the face" for the Territory. "I am appalled that our Constitution ... will be debated in a side chamber in a committee environment in a room reserved for non-controversial bills," he said. The Opposition Whip, Mr McLeay, yesterday criticised Mr Howard for overruling standard practice to use the secondary chamber for routine matters, and only by consensus, and for Mr Howard halving debating time to 10 minutes each. "Surely this is important enough to have 20 minutes each on matters of life and death," he said. The majority support for euthanasia has continued virtually unchanged from the last AGB-McNair poll on the issue, taken in June 1995, showing that the recent death of Mr Bob Dent in the world's first legal death by injection has not moved public opinion. The poll showed that 75 per cent of voters answered "yes" to the question "Would you support or oppose the introduction of a law which protects doctors who assist terminally ill patients who choose to end their own lives?" The same percentage opposed the Andrews bill. * * * * * * * * >From the Sydney Morning Herald October 10, 1996 Drive to stop vote on mercy killing By MARGO KINGSTON in Canberra A pro-euthanasia Liberal MP, Ms Chris Gallus, is counting the numbers for a possible move to block debate on the anti-euthanasia bill, as sparks continue to fly over the downgrading of the debate from the main chamber of Parliament to a small committee room. Ms Gallus said she would not proceed with plans to move a motion next week to dump the bill without debate unless certain of success, an unlikely prospect given the personal endorsement of the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, for the bill. Strategists said Coalition MPs, many of whom are unhappy that the conservative Lyons Forum faction of the Liberal Party forced the euthanasia debate into the Federal Parliament, were certain not to cut off debate now, as it would damage the Prime Minister's prestige. They said any backdown on debate would also alienate Senator Brian Harradine of Tasmania, whose vote is crucial to the Senate approving the partial sale of Telstra, and who passionately supports the anti-euthanasia bill. The debate has already seen a Liberal backbencher, Mr Tony Smith, cross the floor to oppose the removal of debate to a minor chamber, and the Northern Territory Country-Liberal Party, whose two members are part of the Coalition, will be directed to sit on the cross benches if the bill becomes law. Further splits now appear certain, with the ACT branch of the Liberal Party, whose Government would also be banned from passing pro-euthanasia laws if the Federal law is passed, taking the debate to next week's Liberal Federal Council meeting in Hobart. The branch will put a motion that "this Federal Council affirms the fundamental right of the duly elected parliaments of the States and Territories to make laws on behalf of their citizens, and to have those laws respected by the Federal Parliament". The Northern Territory doctor Philip Nitschke, who oversaw the world's first legally sanctioned euthanasia, has been signed up by the Sydney entrepreneur Mr Harry M. Miller. Mr Miller said yesterday that neither he nor Dr Nitschke would gain any financial reward from their agreement. * * * * * * * * Kitty te Riele Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7037