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| Bob Hawke calls for euthanasia to be made legal in Australia | |
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| Bob Hawke has put his political influence behind the campaign to introduce assisted dying laws in Australia, saying it is “absurd that euthanasia is not legal in this country”. | Bob Hawke has put his political influence behind the campaign to introduce assisted dying laws in Australia, saying it is “absurd that euthanasia is not legal in this country”. |
| Speaking on the broadcaster Andrew Denton’s podcast, Better Off Dead, the former prime minister said opposition to euthanasia “doesn’t meet any requirements of morality and good sense” and that Australia had the legal and medical framework to manage such a law. | Speaking on the broadcaster Andrew Denton’s podcast, Better Off Dead, the former prime minister said opposition to euthanasia “doesn’t meet any requirements of morality and good sense” and that Australia had the legal and medical framework to manage such a law. |
| “I am more than happy for my name to be associated with a clear statement of belief that the time has come where we in Australia should have clear legislation on our books that makes euthanasia legal,” he said. | “I am more than happy for my name to be associated with a clear statement of belief that the time has come where we in Australia should have clear legislation on our books that makes euthanasia legal,” he said. |
| The former Labor leader said he had discussed end-of-life options with his wife, Blanche D’Alpuget. | The former Labor leader said he had discussed end-of-life options with his wife, Blanche D’Alpuget. |
| “I have an understanding with Blanche that something I could not stand would be to lose my marbles,” he said. “If that were in fact to happen then something is done about [it] ... I don’t expect it to be a pillow pressed exuberantly over my nose, but I’m sure that something could be arranged with the family doctor.” | “I have an understanding with Blanche that something I could not stand would be to lose my marbles,” he said. “If that were in fact to happen then something is done about [it] ... I don’t expect it to be a pillow pressed exuberantly over my nose, but I’m sure that something could be arranged with the family doctor.” |
| Successive opinion polls have shown that at least 70% of Australians support legalising euthanasia. | Successive opinion polls have shown that at least 70% of Australians support legalising euthanasia. |
| But Hawke said he was not surprised attempts to introduce euthanasia had been defeated by what Denton, who has championed the cause since watching his father die a lingering death in 1997, calls “fear campaigns”. | But Hawke said he was not surprised attempts to introduce euthanasia had been defeated by what Denton, who has championed the cause since watching his father die a lingering death in 1997, calls “fear campaigns”. |
| Politicians had voted down more than 30 attempts to introduce the legislation in various state, territory and federal jurisdictions since 1997, Hawke said. | Politicians had voted down more than 30 attempts to introduce the legislation in various state, territory and federal jurisdictions since 1997, Hawke said. |
| “Well, politicians are by and large not the bravest of creatures,” he said. “They have a preeminent interest in retaining the seat they hold in the parliament, whatever parliament it is, and if they detect that there is no support and there is a degree of antagonism against this particular proposal you won’t find very much courage there.” | “Well, politicians are by and large not the bravest of creatures,” he said. “They have a preeminent interest in retaining the seat they hold in the parliament, whatever parliament it is, and if they detect that there is no support and there is a degree of antagonism against this particular proposal you won’t find very much courage there.” |
| A bill to legalise euthanasia for people enduring “unbearable and hopeless suffering” was introduced to the South Australian parliament for the 14th time in February. It was voted through to a second reading and is expected to be debated in this session of parliament. | A bill to legalise euthanasia for people enduring “unbearable and hopeless suffering” was introduced to the South Australian parliament for the 14th time in February. It was voted through to a second reading and is expected to be debated in this session of parliament. |
| Victoria and Tasmania are both scheduled to debate euthanasia laws in the spring. It will be third attempt to legalise the right to die in Tasmania, following the 2013 defeat of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill which lost by 13 votes to 11 in the lower house – the closest such legislation has got to passing an Australian parliament since the Northern Territory introduced euthanasia in 1995. | Victoria and Tasmania are both scheduled to debate euthanasia laws in the spring. It will be third attempt to legalise the right to die in Tasmania, following the 2013 defeat of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill which lost by 13 votes to 11 in the lower house – the closest such legislation has got to passing an Australian parliament since the Northern Territory introduced euthanasia in 1995. |
| The NT regime was in place for two years before the federal government revoked the territory’s powers to make the legislation. A bill to overturn that decision and restore the right of Australian territories to legislate on this issue, co-sponsored by Labor and Greens MPs, was tabled in the Senate in March. | The NT regime was in place for two years before the federal government revoked the territory’s powers to make the legislation. A bill to overturn that decision and restore the right of Australian territories to legislate on this issue, co-sponsored by Labor and Greens MPs, was tabled in the Senate in March. |
| NT chief minister Adam Giles said if that bill passed he would be “very happy and very keen to see euthanasia brought back”. | NT chief minister Adam Giles said if that bill passed he would be “very happy and very keen to see euthanasia brought back”. |
| Denton began the podcast last year and has recorded 17 episodes including the one featuring Hawke, which is scheduled to be released on Wednesday. He said experience from other jurisdictions that have some form of assisted dying legislation showed legal, doctor-assisted euthanasia could be safely regulated in a way that protected vulnerable people from abuse. | Denton began the podcast last year and has recorded 17 episodes including the one featuring Hawke, which is scheduled to be released on Wednesday. He said experience from other jurisdictions that have some form of assisted dying legislation showed legal, doctor-assisted euthanasia could be safely regulated in a way that protected vulnerable people from abuse. |