The Commonwealth is heading for a showdown with South Australia over plans to introduce a voluntary euthanasia bill before the end of the year.
A decade ago, the Federal Government overturned Northern Territory legislation allowing euthanasia. But Canberra does not have the same power over States as it does over territories, which means that if a bill goes through it will stand.

After reports that an Adelaide woman travelled to Switzland to end her life, two members of the South Australian Parliament have signaled their intention to put up a voluntary euthanasia bill.

Labor backbencher Steph Key said that while it would be the sixth time such a bill had been introduced in SA in the past decade or so, she was hopeful that this time it would pass. Ms Key, who has just returned from a fact-finding mission to the Netherlands, and independent MP Bob Such said they planned to introduce a euthanasia bill.

"I get the impression there is genuine support for voluntary euthanasia." Ms Key said.

Choices Comment: Unfortunately the article does not clarify in which manner a "showdown" may occur. Any one who reads newspapers will be aware of Canberra's greedy eyes on State powers....If Canberra interferes in State Politics I think we will have an entirely different type of "slippery slope" and it has already started with the ABC Board of Channel 2 Television. Sometimes though recently it has been hard to tell the Labor Party from the Libs......

More than the VE issue, causing concern is Australia's involvement in American politics, and the Israeli spokesperson linking us all together in condoning the taking of Hamas Politicians prisoner in retaliation for the abduction of a single soldier, made me despair of peace in the Middle East. (Hamas may be seen as terrorist to the West, but in their own country, they are seen as Freedom Fighters. It just depends on your perspective of ownership. Would Aboriginals fighting for land be seen as "terrorists" in Australia?)

And Australia, like Vietnam before, has been dragged into an abyss of point scoring, , where neither party will give an inch. With globalisation upon us we are leaving a very bad legacy for our children. And we do this all in the Name of God on both sides!

But! back off my soap box!

I think we are in more strife in Victorian with the incumbent Labor Government than South Australia. Keep the Church out of Politics, or keep Politics out of End of Life Choices. The communities' peace of mind should not be a political football of egos to be kicked around at will!

Those who favoured the Andrews Bill

Eric Abetz, (Lib Tas): Richard Alston, (Lib Vic): Mark Bishop, (ALP, WA): Ron Boswell, (Nat. Qld): David Brownhill, (NSW NP): Ian Campbell (Lib. WA): Grant Chapman (Lib SA): Jacinta Collins, (ALP Vic): Mal Colston. (Ind Qld) (I feel, we all remember Mal!) Stephen Conroy, (ALP Vic): Helen Coonan (Lib NSW): Barney Cooney (ALP Vic): Alan Eggleston (Lib WA): Chris Ellison (Lib WA): Chris Evans (ALP WA); Alan Ferguson (Lib SA): Jeannie Ferris (Lib SA): Michael Forshaw (ALP NSW): Brian Gibson (Lib Tas) Brian Harradine (Ind Tas): Bill Hefferman (Lib NSW): John Herron (Lib Qld): John Hogg (ALP Qld): Rod Kemp (Lib Vic): Sandy MacDonald (Nat Qld): Julian McGauran (Nat Vic): Nick Minchin (Lib SA): Belinda Neal (ALP NSW): Bill O'Chee (NP Qld): Warwick Parer (Lib Qld): Kay Patterson (Lib Vic): Nick Sherry (ALP Tas): Jim Short (Lib Vic): John Tierney (Lib NSW): Judith Troeth (Lib Vic): John Watson (Lib Tas): Sue West (ALP NSW) John Woodley (Dem Qld).

38 Votes for: against 33 which included Lyn Allison (Aust Dem Vic): Robert Ray (ALP Vic): Kim Carr (ALP Vic) 3 Abstained (No Vic)

A small number of these names are no longer in politics. I've often wondered whether Mal Colston regretted his decision to support the Andrews Bill, as he lay dying of stomach cancer. Whether his journey had taken him to that place of understanding the need for relief from intense pain or whether he laid back and offered his pain up to God. Mr Andrews took 9 months to bring down what Marshall Perron had worked so hard to achieve. I wonder if some time in the future Mr Kevin Andrews will develop an ailment that will propel him to an understanding why for others; a religious belief is insufficient comfort when facing the demons of bad health. I know there are many people who hope that he does not leave this earth without sharing some of the pain he perpetuated with his Bill.

On the 10th December, 1996 Victoria's Premier of the day went on public record attacking the Andrews Bill. Later, he saw the danger of the Federal Government introducing legislation curbing State and Territory powers. He commented then that he suspected parliamentarians in Canberra are light years behind public opinion on this issue, and with the Andrews Bill, had cut short an "experiment" on which other States could have based similar legislation. (The Australian Newspaper: March 28, 1997).

Come back Mr Kennett - all is forgiven - just don't touch the hospitals, schools, transport - but as there is nothing left to sell off now, we need some rational thought in the debate, which even the most conservative would agree, has been a "considered one for a sensitive and difficult issue"! Perhaps Mr Kennett can talk to Mr Baillieu and inspire him to stop being coy and start having the strength of his convictions on behalf of the 73%! I remember thinking at the time that Jeffery Kennett was speaking from the heart indicating a personal understanding of endured pain.

The polls which indicate 73% in favour of restricted voluntary euthanasia (being selfish, I would settle for legal recognition of Living Wills or Advance Directives) are 73% of voters. In Victoria it is 76%. No one wants to be the next Maria Korp! and no one wants the agony that the family were forced to endure because forward planning of the community has not been treated seriously. All the paperwork attached to Respecting Patient Choices (A Victorian Initiative of the Austen Hospital) informs us that whatever we request, will not be legally binding on our care givers.

Mr Ted Baillieu is at least on public record as a supporter of the concept which demonstrates a lack of religious interference in his capacity as a politician. That was ten years ago. I want his current views as Leader of the Victorian Opposition. To be told he wants proof of further commitment to the cause by Victorians at 76%, one wonders what number would he settle for to be convinced of wide spread support.

With meeting people on the street, the one lesson I have learnt above all others, is the lack of public knowledge about their rights for end of life choices. So many think "their relatives and doctors will ensure they do not suffer" but I've told them, no one wants to go to jail for twenty years - nor do they have the right to expect that of those left behind.

It just means that "forward planning" takes on a whole new dimension!

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