Euthanasia Bill in Victorian Parliament next week

23/05/2008 Australian Christian Lobby Newsletter | ACL understands the Private Member’s Bill to allow doctors to prescribe a lethal cocktail of drugs to the terminally ill will be presented in the Victorian Legislative Council as early as next week. This Bill, co-sponsored by Colleen Hartland MLC (Greens, Western Metropolitan) and Ken Smith MLA (Liberal, Bass) is written in compassionate language with many provisions for “safeguards” but nonetheless breaks new ground in the relationship between the medical profession and patients.“Do No Harm” is a prime ethical code for those in the caring professions, but this Bill rewrites this ancient precept. If you live in Victoria, please take action by visiting www.makeastand.org.au and firing off an e-mail to your local politician.

Sick and vulnerable people need to be able to trust their doctors to give them the best possible care, not to be prescribing killer drugs.

Mercy kill debate to go ahead

25/01/2008 Ellen Whinnett for the Herald Sun | VICTORIA is set for an explosive parliamentary debate on euthanasia after the Government agreed not to block the introduction of a Private Member's Bill.

Liberal MP Ken Smith has agreed to introduce a Bill to let doctors help terminally ill patients commit suicide.

Greens MP Colleen Hartland will co-sponsor the Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Act 2008, some time in the next six months.

Premier John Brumby's office has written to the pro-euthanasia group Dying with Dignity and assured them it will not stand in the way of the Bill if it is introduced.

Mr Brumby's spokeswoman, Alison Crosweller, said no formal request had been made to introduce the Bill.

Children's and Women's Affairs Minister Maxine Morand had previously supported the group's causes.

But Ms Morand could no longer be a sponsor of the Bill as she has been promoted to Cabinet and is not permitted to sponsor anything except government business.

... Mr Smith, the Member for Bass, said he felt very strongly about the issue and would definitely be introducing the Bill.

"It's something I believe in very strongly," he said.

"I will be talking to my party but I plan to introduce it anyway."

The move by a Liberal to introduce the Bill is likely to be controversial and cause considerable debate within the party.

If it gets through to a second-reading stage, it's likely the party would be given a conscience vote.

Mr Smith said he was committed because he had seen members of his family die from cancer.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23103766-2862,00.html

Lesbian use of IVF not in children's interests, says Baillieu.

(26/9/2006) The Age | LESBIANS should not be given the right to IVF treatment, because children deserve to be born into a family with a mother and father, according to State Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu.

In one of his most conservative social stances since taking over the Liberal leadership almost five months ago ... .... Mr Baillieu's comments are in line with the views of Prime Minister John Howard, who believes that "all things being equal, children are entitled to the opportunity of both a mother and a father".

... They are in contrast with his views on other social issues, including gay civil unions, the decriminalisation of abortion, and voluntary euthanasia, all of which Mr Baillieu supports. He has been criticised by some of the more conservative Liberals for being too "left-leaning" on these issues.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/lesbian-use-of-ivf-not-in-childrens-interests-says-baillieu/2006/09/25/1159036473101.html