- LETTER TO SENATORS 19/04/05 -

The following letters is a contribution from a reader, contact details were supplied but deleted. I would love to see more Australians getting involved in lobbying those representing us in Parliament. Please remember politicians are not mind readers, they need to be told what your concerns are for your own wellbeing both now and in the future.

Senator Chris Allison     Senator Marise Payne
Minister for Justice     Committee Chair Person
Parliament House
Canberra 2600             19/04/2005

Dear Senators

It is in response to the Canberra Parliamentary Senate Hearing established to consider the Government initiated amendment (Suicide Related Material Offences) Bill 2004 that motivates me to respond by way of personal input from Townsville N.Q., as set out below.

At the outset, I must amplify that at no point in the past or present have I observed in any print or electronic media reporting, a public calling that necessitated this Government imposed unauthorized sensor-ship concerning the above proposed questionable legislation.

Having stated this, prompts a focus on the politically revered famous words of Abraham Lincoln, that saw the peoples House of Representatives, adopt his words as its Political standard of good government and that is ; “Of the people, by the people, for the people”
With politicians failing to firstly seek the expressed views of their constituents before embarking on such legislation, brings into question, political integrity. Clearly the Government is not listening or adhering to the majority wishes of their people and should be more circumspect where such sensitive issues are concerned. Being confronted with limited option with the only ones now being the “Right to life” and the Government sanctioned “Right to suffer”, the people consequently want the right and freedom to communicate and be counseled on all aspects concerning end of life realities including suicide. Why should citizens, experiencing unrelenting suffering via unfair and, undemocratic legislation be denied access to internet and phone counseling support.

As the Government is not listening to the majority then in the public interest, people are entitled to know to whom or what organization they are listening. As a moral imperative, Why should our citizens, be forced against their will via this proposed legislation into grossly under-funded palliative care hospital wards or the unwanted dragged-out death beds of equally under-funded nursing homes.

Against all good reasoning, if this legislation is allowed to pass into law, we will find ourselves living in a country that dictates and restricts what things we can and cannot freely communicate about. Australians are supposed to live in the so called lucky country, yet whilst we actively fight in support of democracy around the world, our own Government intends that we be forbidden the autonomy to seek knowledge or council for ourselves in ones time of need from other people who only wish to extend support. There is no gain or corruption here, just a Government preoccupation to discriminate against those who selflessly assist the dying.

The reality is that the joy and value of life is important to the vast majority of people. A decision to choose a dignified manner of dying just serves to confirm this. On a social justice issue do we really want this type of punitive prohibition that will push our most vulnerable people into desperate measures that can result in both devastating failures and family upset and if so then this is wrong and not well reasoned humanitarianism.

It is only the V.E.S. and organizations of the likes of Exit International that fills this void and offers the desperate irreversible ill any sense of comfort, support and compassionate understanding in place of shameful political abandonment.

If this proposed legislation ascends into law, I believe the time will come when people in the future will look back in amazement, at how we sadly denied distressed suffering dying people internet and phone access counselling and forced them in a forsaken way to endure against their will, to the very end and I wonder how history will judge the architects of such draconian legislation

The above is for your consideration and attention

Yours truly
Mr R Bennett