- LETTER TO G.COLBRAN FED. LABOR CANDIDATE 02/11/06 (contribution from a reader) -

Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 6:09 AM
Subject: letter of introduction and representation

Mr George Colbran
Labor Opposition Candidate
For the Federal Seat of Herbert
Aitkenvale 4814

Dear George

By way of introduction, my name is (name deleted) and I am corresponding to welcome your candidacy to contest the Federal Electorate of Herbert which up until ten years ago was traditionally a safe Labor seat.

I retired in July 2000 and being a person for life and the quality of life, I became a victim of circumstance by witnessing first-hand a close friend, who against his will was callously forced to die a protracted death in a palliative care ward, from spinal cancer. Before his passing, he privately shared with me, how he confidentially requested of the doctor to assist him with a quick painless death, in order to hasten a shorter, more merciful path to the same end and to which the doctor shrugged his shoulders and said “Speak to the politicians”

I constantly internalize what I have witnessed to-date by suffering irreversibly ill people in both institutional and at home care, being systemically discriminated against and in the absence of overdue legislated options to provide empowerment to the afflicted, these people instead are being forced to cruelly endure against their will to the very end. As a devotee for justice, this cruel situation has motivated me to continue ongoing political representation in support of patient directed dying and the autonomous right to Choose in end of life decisions which should be beyond political debate and be every citizens inalienable civil right.

In the event that you are unaware, arising from a past Qld State Labor Conference, vigorous debate at strong Party grass roots level and with 70% in favor, resulted in a dichotomized valid State-Federal (VE) Labor Policy and set-out below is the current Policy wording.

Emanating from past and recent national VE public surveys and with approximately 80% of the population in support, on balance, it begs the question why this popular supported civil rights issue has not been elevated onto Labors national Policy platform.

In this human rights conscious era and on a cognitive level, what should be factored into the equation is the human dignity aspect of “what’s best for the patient and to listen to what the patient wants” including respect for confidentially between doctor and patient relationship. Over the past ten years, Labor with its culture of in-difference and political inflexibility, for me has gone about as far as it can go and has represented a betrayal of its supporters which I believe has weakened Labors Federal power base which has resulted in my allegiance being hard to sustain.

With Australia now a secular society and both major political parties aligning themselves with religion, for instance;-“Kevin Rudd’s Statement in The Melbourne Age”, history attests that there should be a separation of powers between the State and Church, which I have also conveyed in correspondence to Kim Beazley. On Friday 6th October 2006 a brief report appeared in “The Melbourne Age” which openly supported this statement. Set out below verbatim for your perusal and evaluation is the Melbourne Age report in focus which was directed at the Victorian Brack’s Labor Government accusing it of aligning itself with theological virtues at the expense of democracy and liberal social reform.

With reference to the above, while all governing systems were founded upon social norms and moral beliefs, a secular government’s legitimacy and authority is derived from the people, not from any religious institution. The separation of the two both guarantees religion the right to exist without government influence and at the same time insures the integrity of the democratic system by keeping it free from the influences of religious pressure groups. It is one of the cornerstones of a strong and functioning democracy.

Embedding Christian values-or the values of any other religion- into the political process will not solve the many problems facing Australia . As we are constantly seeing religion misrepresenting enlightenment concerning majority supported public opinion issues, then Labor needs to adopt a bolder approach in developing more refreshing and liberating policies.

For your awareness and perusal I will forward copies of two past letters of political representation to the Opposition Leader Mr Kim Beazley MP. Mr Beazley’s reply to my first letter carefully made no mention of the VE issue that was central to my representation and the second letter to date still remains discourteously unanswered. I will also forward for your interest an expose of my fathers last two years of his life along with an abridged report condensed from eleven to four pages for distribution purposes. To assist with individual political enlightenment, would you please circulate copies of the abridged report to your Political colleagues to create an awareness of the forthcoming thought provoking, two part 50 minute each, documentary segments that are scheduled to be aired on November 23 and 30th at 8.30 PM on SBS, which should be viewed with interest by all politicians and the community alike. Following the airing of Monday’s ABC Four Corners Program embracing Alzheimer’s disease, a letter from an 80 year old , representing a reality check, was circulated on Wednesday the 1st November which makes for an interesting read and a copy of which I will also forward for your perusal and considered circulation.

In taking the liberty to correspond, I am wondering if you have a personal position on this important social issue and in looking forward to your co-operation, it is in anticipation that I await a reply at your earliest convenience as time allows.

To conclude I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best of future success with your candidacy.

Yours sincerely

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