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Euthanasia bill in doubt as two senators reverse position Euthanasia bill defeated in the Senate after senators reverse position
(about 3 hours later)
The push to allow territories the right to legalise euthanasia has been thrown in peril by senators Brian Burston and Peter Georgiou reversing their position – both now intend to vote against the bill. The push to allow territories the right to legalise euthanasia has foundered in the Senate, with a majority of the chamber voting against the proposal before it reached the committee stage.
As recently as Tuesday, the bill’s architect, David Leyonhjelm, was confident it would win the 39 votes necessary to pass the Senate, but the late defections mean the result is unclear before a vote expected on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. The proposal appeared doomed when senators Brian Burston and Peter Georgiou reversed their position on the legislation, switching from yes votes to no votes.
When pairs for absent senators are not considered, the bill has support from 19 Labor senators, nine Greens, four Coalition senators, and six crossbench senators including Pauline Hanson, Leyonhjelm, Centre Alliance, Derryn Hinch and Tim Storer. As recently as Tuesday the bill’s architect, David Leyonhjelm, was confident it would win the 39 votes necessary to pass the Senate, but the push fizzled out.
With 38 votes in favour, the bill needs one more vote to pass, but the pool of undeclared votes is shrinking with undeclared votes such as communications minister Mitch Fifield and Liberal senator Linda Reynolds breaking for the no side. A tie of 38-all in the Senate would result in the bill not progressing. After the bill was denied a second reading, the Liberal senator Eric Abetz declared the “clear vote in the Senate will settle this matter for a generation”.
The Australian Christian Lobby also welcomed the result. “The inherent value of every life must continue to be maintained,” said Martyn Iles, managing director of the ACL. “Australia must not become the kind of society where some lives where considered worthier of life than others.”
Before the vote on Wednesday night, it was clear, when pairs for absent senators were not considered, that the bill had support from 19 Labor senators, nine Greens, four Coalition senators and six crossbench senators including Pauline Hanson, Leyonhjelm, Centre Alliance, Derryn Hinch and Tim Storer.
Over the course of Wednesday, the pool of undeclared votes shrunk with communications minister Mitch Fifield and Liberal senator Linda Reynolds breaking for the no side.
On Wednesday, Burston told Guardian Australia he now intended to vote no after “further advice and consultation”.On Wednesday, Burston told Guardian Australia he now intended to vote no after “further advice and consultation”.
On Monday, a spokesman for Georgiou said he “supports the right for territories to choose their laws regarding euthanasia” which was “different to supporting the act of euthanasia”.On Monday, a spokesman for Georgiou said he “supports the right for territories to choose their laws regarding euthanasia” which was “different to supporting the act of euthanasia”.
But in a speech to the Senate on Tuesday evening, Georgiou said he had decided “with a heavy heart” to oppose the legislation.But in a speech to the Senate on Tuesday evening, Georgiou said he had decided “with a heavy heart” to oppose the legislation.
“Since meeting a group of doctors this week who are firmly against euthanasia, more questions have been raised, forcing me to question my stance on the issue. What are the safeguards that come with this legislation?”“Since meeting a group of doctors this week who are firmly against euthanasia, more questions have been raised, forcing me to question my stance on the issue. What are the safeguards that come with this legislation?”
He suggested that Victoria’s model of euthanasia did not contain adequate safeguards, and he was concerned that territories would gain the power to legalise euthanasia without “safety measures in place to capture only those that they are intended to serve”.He suggested that Victoria’s model of euthanasia did not contain adequate safeguards, and he was concerned that territories would gain the power to legalise euthanasia without “safety measures in place to capture only those that they are intended to serve”.
Georgiou suggested that “people who are just lonely or depressed” or who “have no family or feel they are a burden on society” would opt for assisted suicide.Georgiou suggested that “people who are just lonely or depressed” or who “have no family or feel they are a burden on society” would opt for assisted suicide.
He said palliative care had “fallen off the radar” and state and federal governments should focus on that before assisted suicide.He said palliative care had “fallen off the radar” and state and federal governments should focus on that before assisted suicide.
Debate continued on Wednesday – Labor’s Pat Dodson, Don Farrell, Helen Polley and Deborah O’Neill indicated they would vote against the bill, as also the Liberals James McGrath and Richard Colbeck. Labor’s Pat Dodson, Don Farrell, Helen Polley and Deborah O’Neill indicated they would vote against the bill. Liberals James McGrath and Richard Colbeck also said they were no votes.
O’Neill suggested proponents of the bill had asked senators to “avert our eyes” from the substantive issue of euthanasia to focus only on the element of territory rights in the bill.O’Neill suggested proponents of the bill had asked senators to “avert our eyes” from the substantive issue of euthanasia to focus only on the element of territory rights in the bill.
Leyonhjelm has threatened that if the Turnbull government reneges on a deal to allow a free vote in the Senate and lower house, he may vote against unrelated government bills in retaliation.Leyonhjelm has threatened that if the Turnbull government reneges on a deal to allow a free vote in the Senate and lower house, he may vote against unrelated government bills in retaliation.
If the bill were defeated in the Senate, it would save Malcolm Turnbull the political difficulty of having to choose between satisfying Leyonhjelm’s demands and those of several conservative ministers who do not want the bill to be voted on and passed in the lower house. The bill being defeated in the Senate has spared Malcolm Turnbull the political difficulty of having to choose between satisfying Leyonhjelm’s demands and those of several conservative ministers who did not want the bill to be voted on and passed in the lower house.
Australia newsAustralia news
Assisted dyingAssisted dying
David LeyonhjelmDavid Leyonhjelm
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