Nancy Crick, John Edge's book, and more on Legalising Voluntary Euthanasia

Today there's an article in the Courier Mail about a book published by John Edge called 'Telling it Straight' which apparently includes more information about the assisted suicide of Nancy Crick. The article says that police will review the book with a view to reopening the case of Nancy's death.

This is a comment I sent to the online Courier Mail. I'm not sure whether it will be pulished or not, but I decided to save a copy here anyway.

Isn't it time the States introduced humane legislation which allows Voluntary Euthanasia? Lets have an end to the need for ridiculous clandestine activity, over-the-top publicity, and then the waste of police resources as they hunt down these wicked 'criminals'.

Even Amanda Vanstone, called the most poweful woman in the Federal Cabinet, supports the legalisation of controlled Voluntary Euthanasia. We need to see the end of uncontrolled deaths assisted by radical activists and the even sadder hidden suicides of the many desperate elderly terminally ill who resort to hanging, shooting, or drinking household poisons.

Amanda Vanstone's support for legalised Voluntary Euthanasia - read on for important link

I was delighted to read of Amanda Vanstone's recent public support for the legalisation of Voluntary Euthanasia. Encouragement from Amanda, and hopefully other senior players in the federal sphere, might help one or more States to take the long awaited step of introducing VE legislation.

Marshall Perron introduced the worlds first law permitting voluntary euthanasia in the Northern Territory in 1995. It had overwhelming support within the NT community, and all were devastated (even it's few NT opponents) when Kevin Andrews and federal colleagues treated the NT people like second class citizens by overturning the NT law in 1997.

This was only possible because the Northern Territory wasn't a State. If one of the States had introduced the same legislation, it couldn't have been neutered by Canberra.

One important document which I'd like all interested in the voluntary euthanasia movement to read, is here in the National Library archives.

http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/15050/20010614/home.vicnet.net.au/_vesv/marshallOct96.htm

Because of the publicity accorded Philip Nitschke and others during subsequent years, many people are not aware, or have lost sight of, the critical process and campaign between the time Marshall Perron conceived of the legislation around late 94?) it's subsequent historic passage in the NT Parliament in 1995, and the final gazetting the law in July 1996.

Any States considering the introduction of VE legislation will need an immense amount of fortitude to withstand the presure they'll be put under by powerful and rich opponents who want to derail it. Although a proven minority, their influence is considerable. But the end result WILL be worth the effort if legislation can be introduced which allows terminally ill Australlians to seek a humane death if they wish it.

I'll await development with much interest.

Election Postmortem

What an interesting five days it's been. Much to my surprise (and shock/horror?) the Labor party led by Premier Beattie romped it in as predicted by the polls. I don't understand it fully, but I did say "may the best team win" so I hope that's what happened.

I didn't post until now, because the electorate of Bundaberg was one of several where the vote was so evenly split between the conservative coalition (Liberal/National) and the Labor party that postal votes had to be counted before a winner could be declared. Even now there's some votes still to be counted, but with a lead of over 400 votes, the National candidate Jack Dempsey today claimed victory (I think that's what they called it. The Labor candidate Sonia Clearly hasn't yet conceded defeat as far as I know)

In an earlier post I pondered a scenario where the Bundaberg electorate was won by the Nationals but the overall State went to Labor. Even so, I decided to vote National so I'll have to wear it if the outcome isn't as good for the people of Bundaberg as I'd like it to be.

There's two ways of looking at it.

One is that the National partiy holding Bundaberg might give us a more forceful voice in the Parliament, as opposed to a tame Labor member who has to toe the party line. (With a big State wide victory despite the apalling state of health education water etc., will the Labor party be genuinely motivated to improve things?).

The second way of looking at it is that the Labor party could neglect Bundaberg more than ever before, because any improvements before the next election might be counted to the credit of the sitting National member, giving them an ever stronger foothold in the electorate next time around.

Other things I'll be watching out for will be the attitude and influence of the defeated Labor candidate. The last thing Jack Dempsey needs is to be whiteanted from within the ranks of the doctors and nurses.

What Jack does need, in my opinion, is a good crash course in public speaking and handling the media. His brief appearance on the ABC on election night caused me to cringe with embarrasment for him, and wonder whether I'd made a terrible mistake by giving him my vote. I'm sure he'll come good and grow into the role of State member, but he needs - and deserves - every bit of help his party can give him.

After all, over two elections he's achieved a swing of 15% or more against the Labor party which has been entrenched in Bundaberg for more than 100 years.

The Queensland State Election 2006

This is a comment of mine as it was posted on the Courier Mail site.

Posted by Granny Lynda on Mon 04 Sep 06 at 02:16pm:
I’ve done a lot of thinking during the campaign, and decided that the chance of the coalition developing into an effective working team with the interests of Queenslands people at heart, was greater than the chance of Beattie and his team? suddenly starting to perform (not as in a circus but as in achieving results).
As a result I’ll be voting for my local National candidate. The official policy launches, advertising and coverage since, have helped to confirm to me that I made the right choice.
The thing that could help to change my mind before next Saturday, is if Springborg and/or Flegg continue to cosy up with the Federal coalition. I think it’s desperatlely important that our State Government is always the servant of the people of Queensland, and not subservient to the influence of the Federal Government.
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I probably won't be making another blog entry until after the election, so until then, all I can say is "May the best team win".