- LETTER FROM THE GREENS, COLIN SMITH 18/10/06 -

041 COMMITMENTS REGARDING LEGALISATION OF VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA

Dear: (name and address withheld)

I refer to your letter to our endorsed candidates James Tennant (running for Bayswater) and Bill Pemberton (lead Greens candidate for the Eastern Metropolitan Region), regarding their readiness to introduce and/or support a bill allowing voluntary euthanasia.

The Greens have no party policy on the subject of euthanasia. Our parliamentarians are entitled to vote according to their consciences when the matter comes up.

However, I am advised that all of our lead Upper House candidates have indicated their support for the Legislative Charter of Dying With Dignity Victoria - posted at www.dwdv.org.ajj - and Bill Pemberton has confirmed that he has made that commitment and authorised me to reply to you on his behalf.

James Tennant also supports the Dying With Dignity position, and has also agreed for me to reply to you on his behalf. However, he has not been approached by DWD as yet. Indeed - so far as I know -none of our Lower House candidates have been approached.

I understand from the DWD website that they will in due course be posting the names of candidates who have signified support for and opposition to their Legislative Charter.

As regards the question of any future Greens MP introducing a private members bill on this matter, that is neither ruled in nor ruled out.

Yours sincerely

Colin Smith

Survey Response Coordinator
The Australian Greens ( Victoria )
GPO Box 4589, Melbourne VIC 3001, 1/377 Lilue Bourke Street , Melbourne VIC 3000
Ph: (03) 9602 1141 - Fax: (03) 9602 1655
Email: office@vie.greens.org.au Website: www.vic.grecns.org.au
ABN 11 616 265 905 ARN A0027546F

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