On behalf of the Greens and every Tasmanian who supports the right to die with dignity, I congratulate the Victorian Lower House for passing the State’s voluntary assisted dying legislation.
A majority of members of Victoria’s lower House found the courage and voted with their conscience in a way the majority of Tasmanian MPs could not.
Legislation to provide a safeguarded dying with dignity framework for people suffering agonizing pain and distress is desperately needed in Tasmania. Every day without a safe legal framework in place, is another day of suffering and potentially tragic choices for people for whom palliation does not and cannot provide relief.
Poll after poll, nationally and locally, indicates 80-85% public support for voluntary assisted dying legislation.
Tasmanians are compassionate, caring people, who want the choice to die with dignity, for themselves and their loved ones. We should all have that choice.
If re-elected, in the next term of Parliament, I remain committed to reintroducing dying with dignity legislation for Tasmania. I hope the new parliament, with a new make-up, will follow Victoria’s lead and support the Bill when it is reintroduced.
Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens’ Leader
